Robert M. Rees, a one-time advertising executive who became an outspoken supporter of civil liberties and the First Amendment, died Tuesday at his Kailua home after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 67.

Until earlier this year, Rees moderated a weekly show on 'Olelo Community Television — Channel 54's "Counterpoint." He also served as a host on Hawai'i Public Radio's "Talk of the Islands." Rees also was a frequent contributor to The Honolulu Advertiser.

"Bob was a consummate advocate. Tireless, outspoken and passionate about civil liberties," said Vanessa Chong, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i. "He used his voice, his talents and his financial support to get people to pause and think and in doing so, made Hawai'i a better place."

Rees was active in civil liberties as far back as 1957 and in September, the ACLU gave him its highest honor — the Allan F. Saunders Civil Libertarian Award.

In giving the award, the ACLU noted that Rees led successful efforts at the state and county level to oppose the U.S. Patriot Act.

He helped reduce the sentence for Carl Richie, who originally received 10 years for running a lap-dance operation in 1997.

He also was active on behalf of the educational rights of disabled children, the rights of gays and lesbians and led efforts to protest the Honolulu ban on demonstrations against the Asia Development Bank's convention.

In 1997, he helped create the Davis Levin First Amendment Conference using his own trust money. About $18,000 has been donated since.

Each conference features two speakers with different voices. Guests have included Jay Sekulow, General Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, Ralph Reed, founding Executive Director of the Christian Coalition and now a prominent Republican consultant, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and this year, Kenneth W. Starr, now dean of Pepperdine University Law School and former special prosecutor in the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky investigations.

Not everyone agreed with Rees, but that wasn't the point, Chong said.

"Some folks have disagreed with him from time to time, but I don't think anyone can deny that he was a committed individual dedicated to protecting fundamental freedoms," she said.

Rees was born in San Diego in 1938. He was a graduate of Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia University. He also served with the Marine Corps, drove a taxi in New York City and worked in advertising where he handled the Volkswagen and Porsche/Audi account for 20 years.

He moved to Hawai'i in 1986 and taught American Studies at the University of Hawai'i for 10 years.

Rees appeared on approximately 200 programs on 'Olelo, including 80 live debates during the 2002 and 2004 elections.

"Guests on his shows had to be prepared," said Kealii Lopez, president and chief executive officer for 'Olelo. "It wasn't light TV viewing."

Rees asked questions that the public wanted public officials to answer, Lopez said.

"I think he didn't let people get away with your standard fare of packaged responses and I think that is helpful to most lay people who do not take the time to be informed about issues," she said.

Former Gov. Ben Cayetano, whose first contact with Rees came after he wrote "a scathing criticism" of the Department of Human Services in the late 1990s, considered the advocate a close friend.

The facts Rees had put together impressed Cayetano. He said his preparation was always thorough and became his calling card.

"Sometimes we may have disagreed on the interpretation of the facts, but if he erred at all, he did it on the side of the little guy," Cayetano said.

Cayetano was a frequent guest on Rees' TV and public radio shows.

"To me, he is what a journalist should be," Cayetano said. "I didn't always agree with him, but he knew his facts."

In January, Rees wrote a column in The Advertiser in which he disclosed his battle with cancer and urged lawmakers to pass an assisted-suicide bill. But he noted of his own struggle, "I am planning on waging what I hope is a long, existential struggle of epic proportions."

Rees is survived by his wife of 44 years, Keene; a son, Kendall of Dallas; and a daughter, Liz of Honolulu.

There will be no funeral service. The family will scatter his ashes at sea. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ACLU or the American Cancer Society.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.