William Melvin "Bill" Libby (November 14, 1927 – June 17, 1984) was an American writer and biographer best known for books on sports including 65 on sports figures.[3][4]
William Melvin "Bill" Libby | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 14, 1927[1] Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| Died | June 16, 1984[2] Westminster, California |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Indiana University |
| Notable works | Champions of College Football |
| Notable awards |
|
| Spouse | Sharon |
| Children | Allyson, Laurie Libby |
Early years
editLibby graduated from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, also attended by several notable authors including Kurt Vonnegut.[4] He served in the United States Navy from September 1945 to October 1948.[1][4] He attended Indiana University from 1948 to 1951. Libby was sports editor of the Herald Statesman then later worked for the New York Post.[3]
Works
editLibby wrote several books on sports figures including Rod Carew, Wilt Chamberlain, Phil Esposito, A. J. Foyt, Catfish Hunter, Fred Lynn, Rocky Marciano, Pete Rose, O. J. Simpson, Willie Stargell, and Fran Tarkenton as well as books on hockey, auto racing, professional football, and college football.
He also co-wrote several books on celebrities and sports people including Nancy Reagan, the Roosevelt family, Rick Barry, Vida Blue, Monty Hall, Richard Petty, John Roseboro, Nolan Ryan, and Jerry West.
Libby national champions
editLibby's 1975 book Champions of College Football selected a single college football national champion from the 1900 to 1974 college football seasons.[5] As the highest level of college football does not have an official national champion, Libby's selections are often referenced by the athletic department of the selected university.[citation needed]
Six of Libby's champions, for the years (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1931, 1936), were not selected for that year as national champion by any NCAA-designated "major selector".[6]
† Champion not selected by any NCAA-designated "major selector".[6]
Awards
editIn 1964, Libby was named National Magazine Sportswriter of the Year. He was named to the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.[7]
Family
editLibby and wife Sharon had two daughters, Allyson and Laurie Libby.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Index Record for William Libby (1927) Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem Death File", available online at Fold3 by Ancestry.com website. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ AP. "BILL LIBBY". Retrieved 2018-10-03.
- ^ a b c "Bill Libby". The New York Times. 18 June 1984.
- ^ a b c "The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana on June 17, 1984 · Page 30".
- ^ Libby, Bill (1975). Champions of College Football. Hawthorne Books, Inc. pp. 11–14. ISBN 0-8015-1196-8.
- ^ a b 2020 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
- ^ "Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Home". www.scjewishsportshof.com.