Hugh Hefner, Playboy founder and University alum, dead at 91

By Daily Illini Staff Report

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner has died at age 91.

Hefner died of natural causes, the Associated Press reports. He was surrounded by his family in the Playboy Mansion.

Before his rise to fame, Hefner graduated from the University in 1949 after two-and-a-half years. He majored in psychology and double minored in art and creative writing.

While at the University, Hefner drew cartoons for The Daily Illini and served as a managing editor for Shaft, a campus humor magazine, where he introduced a “Coed of the Month” feature. He was also a member of the Psi Chi honor society and the Grenada Club.

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Hefner previously served as the editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine and chief creative officer of Playboy Enterprises.

This is a continuing story and will be updated.

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