Former University of Miami law professor Fred S. McChesney, an author known for applying economics to the study of law, died after battling an extended illness. He was 68.

McChesney, who died Oct. 12 in Washington, held the de la Cruz-Mentschikoff Endowed Chair in Law and Economics at UM and wrote “Money for Nothing: Politicians, Rent Extraction, and Political Extortion” in 1997 on public choice economics.

He served as as associate director for policy and evaluation at the Federal Trade Commission during the Reagan administration.

McChesney, who held a UM law degree and a doctorate in economics from the University of Virginia, focused on topics such as corporate finance, business transactions and antitrust issues. He also held law school teaching positions at Cornell University, Emory University and Northwestern University.

Eagle Brands Inc. chairman Carlos de la Cruz Sr., whose name is on the endowed chair, said McChesney's “tremendous scholarly legacy would be incomplete without celebrating Fred's best qualities: his eternally sunny outlook and indomitable spirit.”

Visitation is set Nov. 10 and services Nov. 11 in Kensington, Maryland. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to the UM School of Law in memory of Fred S. McChesney at 1311 Miller Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146. The law school will hold a memorial for McChesney in January 2018.