The legendary editor Robert Giroux, who died Friday at age 94, narrowly lost the chance to publish “The Catcher in the Rye.”

Mr. Giroux introduced and nurtured some of the major authors of the 20th century and ultimately added his name to one of the nation’s most distinguished publishing houses.

Mr. Giroux introduced some of the major authors of the century and rose to join a distinguished publishing house, making it Farrar, Straus & Giroux.