Meet The Sports Writers

[Bill Burgess]

William M. Dougherty, Jr.---AKA Bill Dougherty

Born: February 14, 1918, New Jersey
Died: July 17, 1963, Smoke Rise, NJ, age 45---d. died Wednesday at his home of a heart attack

Newark sports writer;
East Orange, NJ, 1-year, 10 months old, (January 3, 1920 census)
Newark, NJ, journalist, daily newspaper, (April 10, 1940 census)
Newark Evening News (NJ), 1936 - 1939, sports writer, 1939 - 1963,
Newark Times

Father: William M., Sr., born New Jersey, around 1893; Mother: Adelaide, born New Jersey, around 1893; They married around 1915.

Trenton Evening Times' obituary, Thursday, July 18, 1963, pp. 4.

---------------------------------------Trenton Evening Times' obituary, July 18, 1963.


March 4, 1959: New York sports writers in St. Petersburg, FL.
Top Row, L-R: Stan Isaacs, Dan Daniel, Tommy Holmes, Bill Dougerty, Len Schecter, Jim Ogle.

Bottom Row, L-R: John Drebinger, Jack Lang, Casey Stengel, Joe Trimble, Ken Smith, Til Ferdenzi.

[Bill Burgess]

Sidney Irwin Friedlander---AKA Sid Friedlander

Born: August 24, 1909, New York
Died: April 12, 2000, Merrick, NY, age 90

New York sports writer;
Manhattan, NY, 2-year old, (April 20, 1910 census)
Binghamton, NY, 10-year old, (January 7, 1920 census)
Binghamton, NY, 20-year old, (April 5, 1930 census)
Manhattan, NY, newspaper reporter, (April 16, 1930 census)(lived with brother, Herman)
Brooklyn, NY, sports department, newspaper, (1940 census)
New York Post, sports writer, 1951? - ? In 1957 asked to be re-assigned to the city desk. He and his wife didn't like him flying in small planes.

Father: Sigmund A., born Austria, around 1870; Mother: Bertha, born New York, around 1880; Ike and Minnie emmigrated in 1892; They married around 1907.

New York Post obituary (NY), April 13, 2000.

[Bill Burgess]

William Rice O'Dell III

Born: August 18, 1928, Illinois
Died: still alive as of November 27, 2005.

Washington sports writer;
Lake Forrest, IL, 1-year old, (April 25, 1930 census)
Lake Forrest, IL, 11-year old, (April 25, 1940 census)
Graduated Stanford University (Stanford, CA),
US Army
San Rafael Independent-Journal (CA), 1951? - ?
Washington Daily News, 1964? - ?
World Magazine, 1972
Conservation Foundation, editor, 1977
Washington Post, 1985 - 1998

Father: William Rice O'Dell, Jr., born Illinois, around 1898; Mother: Frances, born Illinois, around 1901; Married Shelagh Bateman in Washington, DC, August, 1962..

Authored:
Environmental Awakening,

[Bill Burgess]

Robert Olin August

Born: October 6, 1921, Ashtabula, Ohio
Died: September 9, 2011, Wooster, OH, age 89

Cleveland sports writer;
Cleveland, OH, 8-year old, (April 17, 1930 census)
Cleveland, OH, 18-year old,(April 23, 1940 census)
Graduated College of Wooster (Wooster, OH), 1943, (B.A.)
US Navy (Lieutenant), until 1946
Cleveland Press, 1946 - 1982; sports writer, 1946-58; sports editor, 1958-64; sports columnist, 1964-79; Associate editor, 1981-82
Lake County News-Herald, sports editor, 1982-2004. His column was nationally syndicated, 'The Wiser Side of 60.'
Universal Press, 1982-86,
Ingersoll newspapers, 1982 - 2004
Robert is presently retired and living in Wooster, Ohio.

Father: Frank, born Ohio, 1894?; Mother: Lillian J., born Ohio, 1894?; Wife: Marilynn Eccles

Robert Olin August was born on October 6, 1921 in Ashtabula, Ohio and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated in 1939 from Collinwood High School and in 1943 from the College of Wooster. He went from college to the U.S. Naval Midshipmen's School at Notre Dame, where he was commissioned an ensign on September 22, 1943. The next day he married Marilynn Eccles of Pittsburgh. He served with the Special Close Gunfire Support Group for the Normandy Invasion and later in the Pacific, ending up in China. He went to work as a copy boy for the Cleveland Press in 1946, holding several jobs before moving to the sports department in 1951. He covered the Browns (1953-57), became executive sports editor in 1957 and sports editor in 1958. He began writing a sports column in 1964.

In 1978, he left sports to write a general column and assume administrative duties. He was associate editor when the Press ceased publication in June 1982.

That summer he became sports editor of the Lake County (Ohio) News-Herald, his column also appearing in other newspapers of the Horvitz chain. In addition, he began in 1982 writing "The Wiser Side of 60," a column distributed nationally by Universal Press Syndicate.

At the end of 1988, he retired as sports editor of the News-Herald and quit writing "The Wiser Side of 60," moving with his wife to Wooster. He continued writing the sports column for the News-Herald.

He has received the Sigma Delta Chi Distinguished Service Award, is a member of the Cleveland Press Club Journalism Hall of Fame and has won numerous writing awards.His book "Fun and Games," mostly a collection of sports columns, was published in 2001.

Daughter Alison McCulloch lives in Florida.She has two children, Esther and Sarah McCulloch.
-----------------------------------------
Wooster Alumni Community obituary, September 9, 2011.
Robert majored in history and was a member of Phi Alpha Theta, Campaign for Wooster Volunteer, and Land O’Scots. He also earned three varsity letters in baseball. He met his wife, Marilynn Eccles August ’44, at Wooster. After graduation, he served during WWII as a lieutenant in the Navy and participated in the D-Day invasion. Robert worked as a journalist for the majority of his life and was a member of the journalists’ fraternity, Sigma Delta Chi, through which he received the Distinguished Service Award in 1981. He was in the Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame, Media Division, and the Press Club of Cleveland Hall of Fame. His wife, sister, daughter Alison August McCulloch ’68, and three grandchildren, including Sarah McCulloch ’97, survive him.

[Bill Burgess]

James Shannon Whitney McCulley, Jr.---AKA Jim McCulley

Born: November 5, 1908, Cleveland, OH
Died: January 7, 1990, Long Beach, (Long Island), NY, age 81,---d. heart attack

New York sports writer;
Cleveland, OH, 1-year old, (April 25, 1910 census)
Cleveland, OH, 11-year old, (January 10, 1920 census)
Cleveland, OH, private secretary, paper company, (April 11, 1930 census)
Parma, OH, sports writer, daily newspaper, (April 11, 1940 census)
Cleveland News, artist / general assignment reporter, 1926
New York Daily News
Cleveland News,
New York Daily News, sports writer, 1942 (covered racing, football, boxing and basketball.)

Father: James Shannon McCulley, born Canada, 1885?; Mother: Myrtle Whitney, born Ohio, 1884?; Wife: Elsie L. Stinger, born Ohio, 1908?; James married Elsie on October 14, 1932;

National Steeplechase and Hunt Association
Was President of the New York Turf Writers from November 28, 1969 until October 27, 1972, when he was succeeded by Mike Lee, sports editor of the Long Island Press.

The Hackensack Record obituary (NJ), January 9, 1990,-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Sporting News' obituary, February 19, 1990, pp. 43.

[Bill Burgess]

George C. Burton

Born: January 8, 1916, Chicago, IL
Died: December 6, 2001, Albany, NY, age 85

New York sports writer;
moved Queens, NY as infant
Queens, NY, sports reporter, newspaper, (April 8, 1940 census)
Graduated Bryant HS (Long Island City, NY),
Queens College (Flushing, NY),
Long Island Star-Journal, sports writer, (began in HS,
Long Island Daily Press ? - 1957
Detroit Times, bowling editor, 1957 - 1960
PR Director of Bowling Proprietors (Park Ridge, IL), 1960 - 1985. In 1962, became executive director of the NYS Bowling Proprietors Ass. (Albany, NY). Retired as executive director in 1985.

Wife: Evelyn, born New Jersey, 1920?; Daughter: Constance, born New York, 1939?;

Times Union, The (Albany, NY) obituary- December 7, 2001, pp. B6.
Deceased Name: BURTON, GEORGE C.
LOUDONVILLE -- George C. Burton, 85, of Loudonville, died Thursday, December 6, 2001 at St. Peter's Hospice, Albany, after a long illness. He was the widower of Marge Burton, a bowling champion, who died in 1978. Mr. Burton was born in Chicago but was moved to Queens, NY as an infant. A graduate and class officer at Bryant High School, Long Island City, he later attended Queens College, Flushing. He started writing sports for the Long Island Star-Journal while still in high school and continued for more than 20 years. Among various assignments was eight years of full time, game by game, including Spring Training, of the NY Yankees. His baseball stories were also used in the Long Island Press, Staten Island Advance, Jersey Journal and Newark Star-Ledger, part of the Newhouse Newspapers chain.

Mr. Burton switched to the Hearst owned Detroit Times in 1957 and when that paper was sold and closed in 1960, he started a new career in trade association activities. It began as public relations director of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America, Park Ridge, IL and in 1962, he became executive director of the NYS Bowling Proprietors Association, based in the Albany area. He retired as executive director in 1985 but continued as legislative consultant and registered lobbyist.

He also served as executive director of the Capital District Bowling Proprietors Association and produced TV Tournament Time for 11 years. A veteran of World War II, he served as an Army Staff Sergeant at the Pentagon. Mr. Burton was a champion speed skater in the 1930s and also participated in bowling, tennis and golf competitions over the years.

He was a stockholder member and past officer of the Pinehaven Country Club, Guilderland, a member and past president of the Empire State Society of Association Executives and also had memberships in the Baseball Writers Association of America, Bowling Writers Association of America, National Senior Sports Association, Elmhurst-Jackson Heights American Legion Post and Queens County Voiture of 40 and 8.

He was also a board member of the American Association of Retired Persons, Colonie Chapter #2873. In 1977, Mr. Burton was elected to the New York State Lifetime Sports Foundation Hall of Fame, in 1986 to the Capital District Bowling Proprietors Association Hall of Fame and in 1992 to the Bryant High School Sports Wall of Fame.

Survivors include two sons, George C. 'Bud' Burton, Jr. and his wife, Cheryl of Loudonville and James J. Burton of Novi, MI; a daughter, Constance M. Smith of Bennington, VT; five grandchildren, Dustin Burton and his friend, Kari Dumas and Brooke Burton of Loudonville, Gavin Smith and his wife, Christiane of Beaverton, OR, Casey Smith and his finance, Marie Grande and Kelly Wright and her husband, William of Bennington; three great-grandchildren, Alexis Wright of Bennington, Connor Smith and Danny Smythe of Beaverton.

Funeral service 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Bowen Funeral Home, Latham. Friends are invited and may call Friday 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment in Albany Rural Cemetery, Colonie. Contributions, in his memory, may be made to Community Hospice of Albany County, 445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205 or the charity of one's choice.

[Bill Burgess]

Stephen Shirk O'Neill

Born: April 27, 1924, Hanover, PA
Died: April 25, 1995, Enola, PA, age 70,---d. emphysema at Holy Spirit Hospital (Camp Hill, PA)

Baltimore sports writer;
Hanover, PA, 5-year old, (April 15, 1930 census)
Hanover, PA, 15-year old, (April 2, 1940 census)
Graduated Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA), 1948, (Bachelor's degree)
US Army
Pennsylvania newspapers
Harrisburg Patriot-News, sports reporter, (early 50's), 1979 - 1989
Baltimore News-Post, sports reporter, 1958 - ?, Sunday editor (60's), managing editor, 1972 - 1979.

Father: Reginald Theodore O'Neill, born June 6, 1891, Connecticutt; Mother: Rosina Shirk, born September 2, 1894, Hanover, PA.

Harrison Patriot-News' obituary (Harrison, PA), April 26, 1995.

[Bill Burgess]

John Daniel Hanley---AKA Jack Hanley

Born: March 15, 1909, San Francisco, California
Died: October 21, 1978, San Francisco, CA, age 69,---d. after a brief illness.

San Francisco sports writer;
San Francisco, CA, 1-year old, (April 15, 1910 census)
San Francisco, CA, 10-year old, (January 6, 1920 census)
San Francisco, CA, News Service telegrapher, (1930 census)
International News Service (San Francisco), 1942 - April 30, 1958
San Jose Mercury-News, 1958 - 1974

Father: John J, born California, 1877?; Mother: Ella G. Cronin, born California , 1888?.

Jack wrote for a series of northern California newspapers and traveled with the San Francisco Giants.

--------------------------------Sporting News' obituary, November 11, 1978, pp. 53.

[Bill Burgess]

Ernest Clegg Grady---AKA Sandy Grady

Born: December 26, 1934, Charlotte, NC
Died: Still Alive as of July, 2010

Philadelphia sports writer;
Attended North Carolina University
Carolina News
Waynesville Mountaineer
Charlette News (NC), was teenage reporter, January 22, 1955? - Februay 1, 1957?
US Navy (Pacific sector), February 21, 1958? - ?
NEA Special Correspondent, (Philadelphia office), February 18, 1958? - March 30, 1958?
Philadelphia News, sports staff, 1957 - ?
Philadelphia Bulletin, sports columnist, August 19, 1959? - April 17, 1981?
Knight-Ridder News Service, August 23, 1982? - October 27, 1983?
Pittsburgh Press, February 14, 1990 - April 7, 1992?
Philadelphia Inquirer, columnist, September 13, 1982 -- July 18, 1993
Philadelphia Daily News, sports writer, April 26, 1991 - May 15, 1997
USA Today, columnist, (sports/political), June 3, 1997 - present

Sandy Grady is a longtime political and sports columnist.

Expertise: Sports and politics.

Background: Grady spent half his career covering major sports events, the last half writing about Washington politics. He was born in Charlotte and was a teenage reporter on the now-vanished Charlotte News. After tours with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific and a stint at the University of North Carolina, he was a sports columnist for The Bulletin of Philadelphia. Then as a syndicated columnist, he covered seven presidents and 16 national conventions.

A long-time sports writer turned political columnist, Grady's work was syndicated on the Knight Ridder wire and has been anthologized in a number of sports writing collections. Retired from full-time writing in 2000, he continues to write occasional columns for USA TODAY.

[Bill Burgess]

Kenneth Opstein

Born: January 14, 1923, Waseca, MN
Died: Still alive as of October 9, 1912

Chicago sports writer;
Waseca, MN, 7-year old, (April 9, 1930 census)
Minneapolis, MN, 17-year old, (April 6, 1940 census)
Graduated University of Minnesota, 1947 (BA, Journalism)(Attended 1940-42, but interrupted by military service. Returned in 1947 and graduated.)
International News Service correspondent, (Chicago office), April 6, 1948 - 1953?
US government PR job (Italy), October 12, 1953?
Penn Corp, (Sioux City, NE branch), self-employed, 1980 - December, 1991 (Men's fast-pitch softball team, South Sioux City, Nebraska.)
Midwest Region of Penn Life insurance, President, 1961 - 1994
South Sioux City (Nebraska), insurance executive, 1974 -
Ken went from being an insurance man to being a breeder and owner/racer of racing horses, August 13, 1970? - 2010.
Bought horse Gate Dancer privately from Bill Davis for $62,500, and ran him in all 3 Triple Crown races in 1984.
Ken is presently living in Sioux City, Iowa, with his wife, Pat, and is presumably retired.

Father: Max Opstein, born Russia, August 29, 1895, died August 2, 1976 in Minneapolis, MN; Mother: Lena, born Russia, January 25, 1895, died July 17, 1981 in Minneapolis, MN. Wife: Pat.
-------------------------------------
currently, 2010, living in Sioux City, Ia

Atlanta sports writer with International News Service, 1947-48, and Midwest Sports Editor, Chicago, 1949-50, for INS.

Graduated University of Minnesota in 1947 with B.A. in journalism. Started in 1940-42. Education interrupted by service in World War 11. Returned to University of Minnesota 11 years later for two years of graduate study in journalism.

Worked with U.S. Information Service at Embassy in Rome, Italy, 1950-52. Coached Italian baseball team in spare time.

On return to the U.S., worked for Easter Seal Society in Minneapolis and raised money for building Camp Courage for crippled children. Taught journalism at Wisconsin State College, Superior, WI. Later edited monthly magazine for Internationally Chiropractors Association.

Entered insurance business Oct. 1959. Progressed from salesman in Fargo, N.D. to manager in Sioux City, Ia. for Penn Life Insurance to President of Midwest Region and the President of Mass. Indemnity and Life, all part of the Penn Corp family.

While working in the insurance business, Ken became involved in horse racing and also sponsored a men's fast-pitch softball team which won four world championships and finished second twice in a six year period in the late '80's and early '90's. The team also won the Olympic Sports Festival in Los Angeles.

Purchased the horse Gate Dancer for $52,500 from Bill Davis in Ocala, Fl. where Ken had a 300 acre horse farm. Gate Dancer, who ran in the Triple Crown races, won the Preakness in track record time, becoming the first horse to win $1 million as a 3 year old and again as a 4 year old. Among Ken's stakes winning horses in addition to Gate Dancer were Santa Anita Derby winner Destroyer, Summertime Promise, Targa, in partnership with the late movie star John Forsythe, who had the lead role in the TV series Dynasty, Princely Pleasure, Haveago, Excello, Norman Regret, Royal Knight, Swift Whisper, Two Bobbs and Pondelli.

Monti Sims handled the early horse training for Ken. Later his son, Sonny Sims, became the farm conditioner at Ken's Good Chance Farm. Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg succeeded the elder Sims as trainer. Jim Moffett was the original farm manager in its building phase and Dean Johnson followed during the farm's successful racing period.

Ken allowed himself to become involved in a white collar fraud scam, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison on January 7, 2010. Along with 2 other men, the scam was a nationwide theft scheme to bilk elderly customers out of over $1 million dollars. The elderly were seeking discounts on prescription drugs or dental work. Ken pleaded 'no contest'.

Ken was arrested in August, 2009, and the scam was believed to go back as far as 2005. Grant Wilms, 44, his father, Hermann Wilms, 75, and Kenneth Opstein, 87, were sentenced in February for their roles in a scheme that bilked about 2,500 elderly victims nationwide out of around $1.2 million between August 2008 and July 2009. Their company was ASP Inc., which—along with its predecessor, National Health Care Discount (NHCD)—offered discounts on prescription drugs and dental work.

Customers would turn over their bank or credit card information to the companies to get the discount card. But company officials withdrew more money out of their accounts than they were authorized to—usually $80 to $110 at a time.

Chicago Tribune write-up, July 17, 1973, pp. C4.

[Bill Burgess]

Charles Lamont Buchanan, Jr.

Born: March 7, 1919, New York
Died: Still Alive as of 1962?

New York Book author;
Manhattan, NY, 10-month old, (January 12, 1920 census)
Manhattan, NY, 11-year old, (April 11, 1930 census)

Father: Charles Lamont Buchanan, Sr., born New York, around 1884; Mother: Anne M., born New York, around 1882.

Authored:
The World Series and Highlights of Baseball in Text and Over 250 Pictures, 1951
Story Of Tennis - In Text And Pictures, 1951
The Kentucky Derby Story in Text and 140 Illustrations
The pictorial baseball instructor;: With forty magic rules to help you play any position better in little league, college play, major league
The Story of Football in Text and Pictures
A Pictorial History of the Confederacy, 1951.
Ballot for Americans: a Pictorial History of American Elections and Electioneering With the Top Political Personalities, 1789-1956
People and Politics. The Pictorial History of the American Two-Party System
Ships of Steam: Steamships and the Men Who Manned Them, From the 1780s to the Present. An Exciting Picture History of Triumph and Disaster on the High Seas
Steel Trails and Iron Horses; a Pageant of American Railroading
The Flying Years: a Pictorial History of Man's Conquest of the Air

Buchanan was the son of Charles L. Buchanan, who was born in 1884 and worked as a newspaperman first in Hartford and then as a music, art and theater critic in New York. The 1930 census lists C. Lamont, age 11, among Charles' children, which matches the date of birth I find for Lamont in library cataloging. Lamont published very prolifically on all sorts of subjects from the late 1940's until 1956, and you might suspect he must have died soon after, since as far as I can tell he published no books after that. However, the NY Times obituary of Charles Buchanan, March 12, 1962, page 3, lists Lamont Buchanan of New York among the survivors. I haven't been able to come up with any more.

[Bill Burgess]

Thomas Edmund Burke

Born: January 15, 1875, Boston, MA
Died: February 14, 1929, Boston MA, age 54,---d. Haymarket Relief Hospital (Boston, MA), since last Saturday, following his collapse on a ferry boat. Buried in Holyhood Cemetery.

Boston sports writer;
Boston, MA, 5-year old, (June 3, 1880 census)
Boston, MA, 24-year old, at school, (June 9, 1900 census)
Boston, MA, lawyer, general practice, (April 15, 1910 census)
Boston, MA, lawyer, (January 10, 1920 census)
Attended Harvard (Cambridge, MA) and Boston University Law School
Patrick F. Gargan / Patrick F. Keating Law Firm; (Joined after college.) Practiced about 6 years.
Boston Journal, sports writer, 1907 - October, 1917
Boston Post, sports writer, October, 1917 - ?

Father: John B., born Massachusetts, December, 1836; Mother: Annie M. born Massachusetts, September, 1839; Wife: Alice Bodwell (Peggy Quincy);

Mr. Burke received his LL B from Boston University law school in June, 1897. Tom was originally a track and field star runner who made the transition to sports journalism.

Height: 6'0" (183 cm); Weight: 146 lbs (66 kg); Personal Bests: 100 – 11.8 (1896); 440y – 48.8 (1896).
Affiliations: East Boston Athletic Association/Boston Athletic Association

Of the six Americans to win Olympic track and field titles in 1896, Tom Burke was perhaps the only one who would still have been crowned a champion if all the world’s best athletes had been assembled in Athens. At the Athens Olympics, he completely dominated both sprints and was never seriously threatened in the heats or the final of either event. Having won the AAU 440y in 1895, he was the only reigning American champion to compete in Athens. He won the AAU again in 1896 and 1897, and in 1898 took the 880y. His winning time of 48.8 in the 1896 440y had been bettered only by the legendary Lon Myers among Americans. At the IC4A, Burke won the 440y in 1896 and 1897 for Boston University, and in 1899 he took the 880y when he was a graduate student at Harvard. He also represented the New York AC and in 1897 was a member of their relay team which won the first AAU championship. Tom Burke set up a law practice in Boston and was also a journalist, writing first for the Boston Journal and later the Boston Post. He served briefly as track coach at Mercersburg Academy.

Boston Globe obituary, February 15, 1929, pp. 32.-----------------------------------------------------------------------New York Times' obituary, February 15, 1929, pp. 29.------photo, 1908.


Boston Globe obituary, February 15, 1929, pp. 32.

[Bill Burgess]

Samuel P. Carrick, Jr.

Born: January 22, 1872, Nashville, TN
Died: March 31, 1930, Somerville, MA, age 58,---d. Somerville hospital from car accident injuries received the night before.

Boston sports writer;
Roxbury (Boston), MA, 8-year old, (June 2, 1880 census)(listed Saml. P. Carrick)
Boston, MA, reporter, with newspaper, (June 5, 1900 census)
Somerville, MA, night editor, newspaper, (April 25, 1910 census)(listed Samuel P.)
Somerville, MA, reporter, newspaper, (Family name listed as Carrig) (January 7, 1920 census)(listed Samual F.)
Associated Press,
Started writing baseball around 1896
Lived in Somerville, MA, April, 1909
Boston Advertiser, sports writer,
Boston Record, many years - October, 1908
Boston Post, assistant sports editor, October, 1908? - 1913?;
Boston Journal, sports writer,
Boston Telegram, sports writer,
Boston American, sports editor, ? - ?; copy reader, ? - March 31, 1930, death.

Father: Samuel P. Carrick, Sr., wholesale shoe merchant, born Massachusetts, July, 1822; Mother: Mary F. born Tennessee, April, 1839; Sister: Mary F. (Thurston), born Tennessee, September, 1872; Sister: Alice V., born Tennessee, August, 1874; Sam's paternal grandfather/grandmother were born in Scotland.


Boston Globe obituary, April 1, 1930, pp. 25.--------------------------Springfield Republican obituary, April 3, 1930.---Hartford Courant obituary, April 1, 1930, pp. 4.

[Bill Burgess]

Ralph Edward McMillin

Born: June 8, 1882, Amsterdam, New York
Died: February 10, 1918, Medford, MA, age 35,---d. at home of pneumonia.
Buried: Southview Cemetery in North Adams, MA.

(The world was having a terrible epidemic. The 1918 flu pandemic, commonly referred to as the Spanish flu, was an influenza pandemic that spread to nearly every part of the world. It was caused by an unusually virulent and deadly influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. The pandemic lasted roughly from March 1918 to June 1920.)

Boston sports writer;
17-year old, at school, lived with family in North Adams, MA (June 5, 1900 census)
Winthrop, Suffolk, MA, newspaper reporter, (May 9, 1910 census)(listed Ralph C.)
Graduated Phillips-Andover Academy (Andover, MA), Williams College (Williamstown, MA) and Columbia University (NYC).
Boston American, reporter, 1908? - ?
Boston American
Boston Herald Traveler, sports writer
Boston Journal, October 1, 1914? - January 19, 1915? (4 months)
Boston American (political news), around January, 1917
International Syndicate (poetry)

Father: Edward Alben, born New York, June, 1859, died 1944; Mother: Annie Eloise Waters, born New York, October, 1860, died 1946; Wife: Mary D. Emmett, born Dover, New Hampshire, August, 1879, died 1981; Son: John E., born Massachusetts around May, 1909; Daughter: Elizabeth L., born Massachusetts around December, 1909; Ralph married Mary April 1, 1907 in North Adams, MA.

Boston Globe obituary, February 12, 1918, pp. 8.----------------------------Washington Post obituary, February 12, 1918, pp. 8.-----------Bridgeport Telegram (Conn.) death write-up, February 13, 1918, pp. 15.


Southview Cemetery, North Adams, MA.----------------------------------Hartford Courant obituary, February 12, 1918, pp. 14.

[Bill Burgess]

Arthur Daniel Cooper

Born: November 29, 1878, Boston, MA, (confirmed by WWI Civilian Draft Registration and the 1880 census.)
Died: August 22, 1946, Boston, MA, age 67,---d. at his home in South Boston, MA.

Boston sports writer;
Boston agent, (June 5, 1900 census)
Boston newspaper reporter, (April 18, 1910 census)
Boston newspaper reporter, (January 8, 1920 census)
Boston Attorney at law, (April 12, 1930 census)
Graduated Boston Latin School (Boston, MA), 1909-11
Attended Harvard Universty (Cambridge, MA), 1909-1911; Graduated 1913
Boston American, yachting editor, 1904
Boston Post, sports writer, 1910
Boston Red Sox, traveling secretary, 1911
Boston Evening Transcript, Federal Court reporter
Graduated Suffolk Law School, April, 1924, (sworn as member of the bar.)
New England League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Secretary-Treasurer, 1914-15
unemployed newspaperman, lived in South Boston, (September 12, 1918 WWI Civilian Draft Registration)
self-employed in Boston, MA, (April 27, 1942 WWII Draft Registration.)
Practicing lawyer, never married.

"Since leaving College I have been connected with the Boston Post for a period of a year. Also connected with the Boston American Baseball club, Jersey City Baseball Club, and in 1914-15 was Secretary-Treasurer of the New England League of Professional Baseball Clubs. Have been active in city politics in Boston but never a candidate, although nominated for the City Council by the chairmen of the twenty-five ward committees of the Democratic party in 1915.

For three years I have been addressing all sorts of clubs, fraternal organization, et., all over New England on various topics of the world of sport.

While at College I worked for the Boston Post as a sporting writer and traveled with major league clubs all over the circuits." (Harvard College, Class of 1913; Secretary's Second Report, June, 1917.)

Father: James Fenimore., born March, 1842, MA, was produce dealer; Mother: Julia Ann (O'Reilly), born September, 1846, Ireland.

Boston Globe obituary, August 24, 1946, pp. 8.--------------------------------------------Sporting News' obituary, September 4, 1946, pp. 29.