Obituaries in the news

TORONTO (AP)--Geoff Ballard, a Canadian pioneer of the fuel cell industry and an entrepreneur Time Magazine once named one of its "Heroes for the Planet," died Saturday. He was 76.

A company official confirmed Ballard's death. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Ballard developed the world's first hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered, zero-emission transit bus. Science World, a science center in Vancouver, British Columbia, unveiled the vehicle in 1993.

In 1979, Ballard founded Ballard Power Systems Inc., which makes hydrogen fuel cells that are used in materials handling, residential cogeneration, backup power and transportation. He served as chairman of the company until 1997.

In 1999, he started General Hydrogen, which was bought by Plug Power Inc. last year for $10 million.

In 1999, Time magazine named Ballard as one of its "Heroes for the Planet," alongside the environmental work of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his partner John Cronin.

___

Frank H. Delaplane

RENO, Nev. (AP)--Frank H. Delaplane, former news editor for the Gannett News Service who also worked for newspapers in San Francisco and Reno, died Monday. He was 79.