Povich, Shirley, 1905-1998

Shirley Povich (July 15, 1905--June 4, 1998) was a newspaper reporter for The Washington Post. He worked there for 41 years, before his retirement in 1973.

From the description of Shirley Povich papers, 1908--2008, and undated (bulk 1940--1999). (University of Maryland Libraries). WorldCat record id: 682626209

Shirley Povich (July 15, 1905--June 4, 1998) was a newspaper sports editor and columnist for The Washington Post . He worked there for 41 years, before his retirement in 1973.

Shirley Povich was born in Bar Harbor, Maine, where in 1922, he caddied for the publisher of The Post, Ned McLean. McLean convinced the 17 year old Povich to move to Washington, D.C. to caddy and work as a copy boy at The Post . Povich enrolled at Georgetown University where he studied law in concurrence with his career at The Post . Two years later he was made a sportswriter and published his first by-line in August, 1924. Povich was only 21 when he became the youngest sports editor in the country and he subsequently began his own sports column, "This Morning with Shirley Povich". The column was briefly halted while he reported in the Pacific Theater during World War II, from 1944 to 1945. Povich officially retired in 1973, but still wrote more than 500 pieces after his "retirement". In 1995, Povich was honored by The Post publisher, Donald Graham, for his 75th anniversary at the newspaper. In the span of his career, Povich wrote over 15,000 columns. Povich died of a heart attack at the age of 92.

Povich was one of the most important and historic sportswriters of all time. He was read by sports fans and non-sports fans alike. His columns were even read by the presidents, beginning with Calvin Coolidge. Povich reported on many important events, such as various World Series and Olympic games, including his columns from the 1972 Munich Olympics and hostage crisis. He was also present at the 1932 World Series and Babe Ruth's "called shot". Povich was extremely interested in the Washington, D.C. sports teams, including the Nationals and the Redskins. Povich had a tumultous relationship with the Redskins owner, George Preston Marshall, often calling him out in his columns for his lack of racial integration on the field. Povich was honored by the writers' wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975 and was elected to the National Sportswriter Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also a recipient of the Red Smith Award in 1983. In 1958, Povich was included in the Who's Who of American Women, an embarassing oversight which he would laugh at for years.

Povich met his wife Ethyl in 1930 and they were married for 66 years. They had three children together. Maury is a television talk show host who is married to reporter Connie Chung, David is a lawyer in Washington, D.C. and Lynn was a managing editor at MSNBC and the first female Senior Editor at Newsweek magazine.

From the guide to the Shirley Povich Papers, 1908--2008, and undated, 1940--1999, (Library of American Broadcasting)