1997 – Robert Wiley Broeg
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, March 18, 1918, legendary St. Louis
sportswriter Robert “Bob” Wiley Broeg had a career that spanned more
than 6 decades. Broeg began his career, in 1941, as a reporter for
the Associated Press, first in Jefferson City, Missouri, then Boston,
Massachusetts. In 1942, he returned to St. Louis to work for the St.
Louis Star-Times; however, shortly after moving he joined the military
and served during World War II. After returning from the war, in 1945,
Broeg returned to St. Louis and joined the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Over
the next 59 years, Broeg filled many positions at
the Post-Dispatch including sportswriter, sports editor, assistant to
the publisher, and contributing editor. Along with his work for
the Post-Dispatch, he also contributed to Sporting News, as a columnist
for 30 years, hosted a radio show on KMOX from 1963-1990, and wrote 16
books. During his long career Broeg received many awards, including the
Cooperstown Hall of Fame Writing Award, the Rockne Club of America
National Award, and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award. He was also named
Missouri Sportswriter of the Year five times. In recognition of his
outstanding contributions as a sportswriter, Broeg was inducted into the
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame on April 28,
1997.