1978 – Jim Murray

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on December 29, 1919, sportswriting legend Jim Murray had a 55-year career in journalism. His career began at the Hartford Times, where he worked as a campus correspondent while still in college. After graduating in 1943, Murray worked as a beat reporter for the New Haven Register, before moving to the west coast to work for the Los Angeles Examiner, in 1944. He worked for the Examiner for four years, until going to work for Time magazine as its L.A. correspondent. Then in 1953, while still working for Time, he helped develop Sports Illustrated and became west coast editor of the magazine until 1961. In 1961, Murray joined The Los Angeles Times as a sportswriter and columnist, a position he held for 37 years until his death in 1998. For his work Murray won many awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1990, the Red Smith Award in 1982, and the National Headliner Award in 1965 and 1977. He was also named National Sportswriter of the Year by the NSSA 14 times. Murray was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame on April 4, 1978. He died August, 16, 1998.