Jerry Magee

Jerome Field Magee (April 11, 1928 – January 2, 2019) was an American newspaper columnist.

For the American golfer, see Jerry McGee.
Jerry Magee
Born(1928-04-11)April 11, 1928
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 2019(2019-01-02) (aged 90)
San Diego, California, U.S.
OccupationJournalist, columnist
NationalityAmerican
GenreSports

Magee was a sports writer in San Diego for 52 years, retiring from the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2008.[1] He began his career more than five decades earlier at the then-San Diego Union and also wrote for Pro Football Weekly.[2]

Biography

Magee, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, was raised in Nebraska. He graduated in 1950 from the University of Nebraska.[3] He served in the Army in Korea.[4]

Career

His first job newspaper job was as a copyboy at the Omaha World-Herald, where one of his tasks was to mix flour and water into the paste used by copy readers. He joined the San Diego Union-Tribune in 1956.

Magee was called "an American Football League apologist" by his contemporaries who covered NFL football, adopting it himself and regularly quoting it.[5] He took on what he has called the "NFL apologists," including William Wallace, sports columnist with The New York Times, and Jerry Green of the Detroit Free Press, in Magee's attempt to puncture what he called "NFL myths."

Magee brought attention to the AFL's style of football, including writing about Will McDonough and his service on the American Football League Hall of Fame board of selectors.[6] Magee wrote frequently about interviews he had with American Football League superfan, archivist and historian Ange Coniglio.

Upon Magee's retirement in September 2008, the Union-Tribune published a tribute article about Magee that was written by people he covered and worked with, including former San Diego Chargers running back Hank Bauer.[7]

Recognition

October 29, 2008 was proclaimed "Jerry Magee Day" by the San Diego City Council in recognition of his more than 50 years as "one of the region's top sports writers."[8]

In 1987, Magee was given the Dick McCann Memorial Award from the Professional Football Writers of America organization, which is handed out to reporters who have made "a long and distinguished contribution" to pro football through coverage.[9]

References
  1. Graney, Ed (June 29, 2011). "Tennis, anyone? Not right now in the United States". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  2. Norwood, Robynn (July 27, 2007). "And you get your own plane". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  3. San Diego Union-Tribune, About Jerry Magee
  4. Jerry Magee, legendary San Diego sports writer, dies at 90
  5. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Iconic Raiders owner helped mold NFL," October 8, 2011
  6. "American Football League Contributors". Unofficial "American Football League Hall of Fame" at the Coniglio family website. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  7. "About Jerry Magee: Stories about the Union-Tribune's longtime sportswriter," September 27, 2008
  8. San Diego City Council docket, "October 29, 2008 to be 'Jerry Magee Day' in San Diego," October 27, 2008
  9. Pro Football Writers, "PFWA Announces Winners' (scroll down to previous winners) Archived 2013-04-15 at archive.today
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