Introduction
Edwin Pope (1928 – 2017) was a popular American journalist most famously known for his sportswriting at the Miami Herald.
Early life and career
Edwin Pope (John Edwin Pope) was born on April 11, 1928, in Athens, Georgia. he grew up in Georgia and attended the University of Georgia.
His career began early at the age of eleven when he started writing about sports for his hometown newspaper Athens Banner-Herald. He was promoted to newspaper’s sports editor by the time he turned fifteen - which made him the youngest person in America to hold that position.
After finishing his graduation, Pope worked briefly for United Press International, Atlanta Journal, and Atlanta Constitution.
In 1955, he got published his first book, Football's Greatest Coaches. The book was successful and in 1956 he left his hometown and moved to Miami to pursue a career in journalism.
In Miami, he began working as columnist and assistant editor for the Miami Herald. Soon, within a year, he was promoted to Sports Editor when the previous Editor retired. He stayed with Miami Herald throughout his career until his death in 2017.
He had retired as Herald's sports editor in 2003, but he continued to contribute columns to the newspaper until 2016. In his illustrious career, he covered Super Bowl I through Super Bowl XLVII.
Death
Pope died of cancer on 19 January 2017 in Okeechobee, Florida. He was 88.
Awards
- Red Smith Award (1989)
- Bert McGrane Award (2000)
- Member National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame
- Member Florida Sports Hall of Fame
- Member College Football Hall of Fame
- Member Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Four National Headliners Club awards as the nation's best columnist
- Three Eclipse Awards for thoroughbred racing columns
Books
- Football's Greatest Coaches (1955)
- The Edwin Pope Collection (Contemporary American Sportswriters) (1988)