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Edwin Pope
Edwin Pope
Edwin Pope
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John Edwin Pope[1] (April 11, 1928 – January 19, 2017)[2] was an American journalist known for his sportswriting at the Miami Herald, where his work appeared from 1956 until his death in 2017. He covered Super Bowl I through Super Bowl XLVII.[3] Some referred to him as "the best writer of sports in America."[1]

Key Information

Early career

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Pope's journalistic career began at the early age of eleven, when he began covering small events for his hometown Athens Banner-Herald. By the time he was fifteen he had been promoted to the sports editor of the paper, thus making him the youngest person in the country to hold that position.[citation needed] His college years were spent at the University of Georgia, and after graduating he worked briefly with the United Press International, Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution.[4]

Miami Herald

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Pope's success with his 1954 book Football's Greatest Coaches allowed him to leave the Atlanta area and move down to Miami,[5] where he accepted a lucrative position at the Miami Herald in 1956. Brought on as a columnist and assistant editor, he was made Sports Editor within the year when the previous Editor chose to retire.[1] In his 50-plus years he covered the growth of Miami as a sports city, from a tourist destination with no professional teams, to a World City with franchises in all four major sports, and major events in golf, tennis, and auto racing.

While he retired as the Herald sports editor in 2003, he contributed columns to the newspaper until 2016, when he wrote his last piece eulogizing boxer and former Miami resident Muhammad Ali.[6]

From 2012 Pope lived in Okeechobee, Florida.

Awards

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Books

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  • Football's Greatest Coaches (1955)
  • The Edwin Pope Collection (Contemporary American Sportswriters) (1988)
  • Baseball’s Greatest Managers (1960)

References

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Edwin Pope

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Edwin Pope was an American sports columnist known for his influential career at the Miami Herald, where he worked from 1956 until his death and covered every Super Bowl from the inaugural game in 1967 through Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. Regarded as one of the most respected voices in American sports journalism, Pope chronicled the rise of South Florida sports, including the Miami Dolphins' success and the University of Miami's football prominence, with sharp wit, insightful analysis, and elegant prose that earned him widespread admiration among peers and readers alike. Born on April 11, 1928, in Athens, Georgia, Pope published his first book, Football's Greatest Coaches, in 1954, which helped launch his move to the Miami Herald two years later. He quickly established himself as the paper's leading sports columnist, succeeding local legend Jimmy Burns and becoming a fixture in the region's sports coverage for more than six decades. Pope's work extended beyond columns to include major national events, and he was honored with prestigious awards, including the Red Smith Award for outstanding contributions to sports journalism, multiple writing honors, and induction into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame. Pope battled cancer in his later years and died on January 19, 2017, at age 88 in Okeechobee, Florida. His legacy endures through his extensive body of work and the impact he had on sports writing in Florida and beyond.

Early life and education

John Edwin Pope was born on April 11, 1928, in Athens, Georgia. His interest in sports journalism developed early, and he began writing sports stories for the Athens Banner-Herald, his local newspaper, at the age of 11. This initial experience involved covering local youth events, marking the start of a lifelong career in the field. By age 15, Pope had advanced to the position of sports editor at the Athens Banner-Herald, a role that made him the youngest sports editor in the country at the time. He also covered University of Georgia athletics in this capacity, gaining early exposure to major college sports. Pope attended the University of Georgia, where he also served as sports information director, and graduated in 1948. This formal education built on his precocious practical experience in newspaper work.

Journalism career

Early journalism positions

After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1948, Edwin Pope began his professional journalism career with United Press International in Atlanta. He subsequently worked for the Atlanta Constitution, where he was hired in 1950 by sports editor Furman Bisher, who praised his outstanding writing, aggressiveness, and exceptional work ethic. Pope later moved to the Atlanta Journal, serving as its executive sports editor starting in 1954. During his time in Atlanta, Pope authored and published his first book, Football's Greatest Coaches, in 1955. The book benefited from promotional exposure, including a mention by Ed Sullivan on national television, which helped drive sales. In 1956, he left Atlanta to join the Miami Herald.

Miami Herald tenure

Edwin Pope joined the Miami Herald in 1956 as assistant sports editor and immediately began writing columns, launching a tenure that would span nearly six decades. He was promoted to sports editor in 1967 following the retirement of Jimmy Burns, a position he held until his retirement from that role in 2003, though his administrative duties were minimal as he focused primarily on producing at least four columns per week. Pope continued contributing dozens of columns to the newspaper until 2013. In 1970, Dolphins owner Joe Robbie consulted Pope on a successor to head coach George Wilson, and Pope recommended Don Shula, then coaching the Baltimore Colts; Shula later described Pope as instrumental in his hiring. The Miami Dolphins honored Pope's contributions by naming the press box at Hard Rock Stadium in his honor.

Notable sports coverage

Edwin Pope provided in-depth coverage of Miami's emerging professional sports scene and its prominent college programs over many decades. He reported on the Miami Dolphins from their inaugural season in the American Football League in 1966, attending nearly every home game and most road contests while documenting the franchise's early development and achievements. Pope chronicled the University of Miami Hurricanes' football dynasty, including their five national championships in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001. He also covered the arrival of the Miami Heat as an NBA expansion team in 1988 and the Florida Marlins as an MLB expansion franchise in 1993. Pope's most extraordinary journalistic feat was his attendance at every Super Bowl from the inaugural game in 1967 through Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, establishing a record streak of 47 consecutive Super Bowls. His reporting extended to major national and international events across multiple sports. Pope covered the 1964 Muhammad Ali–Sonny Liston heavyweight title fight, the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic hockey victory—which he described as his most ecstatic event—the Masters golf tournament, Wimbledon tennis championships, Triple Crown horse races, and numerous heavyweight boxing bouts.

Authorship

Published books

Edwin Pope authored or co-authored five books on sports subjects throughout his career. His first book, Football's Greatest Coaches, was published in 1955 and profiled prominent football coaches along with the key players and plays that defined their legacies. This was followed by Baseball's Greatest Managers in 1960, which similarly examined leading figures in baseball management. In 1970, Pope published Ted Williams: The Golden Year, 1957, focusing on the Boston Red Sox legend's remarkable 1957 season, during which he won the American League batting title at age 39. Pope co-authored On the Line with Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Norm Evans in 1976; the book served as Evans' memoir, recounting his experiences in professional football. Pope's final book, The Edwin Pope Collection, was released in 1988 and compiled selections from his sportswriting.

Awards and honors

Major recognitions

Edwin Pope received several major awards and honors in recognition of his distinguished career in sports journalism. He won three Eclipse Awards for outstanding thoroughbred racing coverage in 1976, 1982, and 1986. He was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 1994. Pope was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. In 1989, Pope was awarded the Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement in sports journalism by the Associated Press Sports Editors. He also received the National Headliners Club award as the nation’s best sportswriter on four occasions. Pope was honored with the Bert McCrane Award around 2000–2001. In 2002, he received the Dick McCann Memorial Award and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame writers’ wing.

Media appearances

Television credits

Edwin Pope appeared as himself in various television programs, primarily sports documentaries and series, drawing on his extensive expertise as a sports journalist with the Miami Herald. These appearances were expert commentary roles rather than acting or production positions. Prior to his on-camera work, he delivered sports commentaries four times a day on a South Florida country music radio station for a decade during the 1960s and 1970s. His most extensive television contributions were to ESPN productions. Pope appeared in 37 episodes of the documentary series ESPN SportsCentury from 1999 to 2005, credited as Self - Miami Herald. He also featured in 6 episodes of ESPN 25: Who's #1? between 2004 and 2006 and in 2 episodes of The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... in 2006. Beyond these, Pope appeared in one episode of the documentary series Eyes on the Prize II in 1990 and as himself in the 2008 TV movie Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami. His invitations to these programs reflected his reputation as a leading voice in sports journalism.

Personal life and death

Family and later years

Edwin Pope was married twice, first to Caroline and later to Eileen, whom he met in 1971 and married in 1973; Eileen survived him. In his later years, he retired as sports editor of the Miami Herald in 2003 but continued to write occasional columns until 2016. He moved to Okeechobee, Florida, in 2012, where he spent his retirement focused on family and personal pursuits. Pope died of cancer on January 19, 2017, in Okeechobee, Florida, at the age of 88. There are no funeral services planned; he was cremated, and his ashes were placed in a family plot in Athens, Georgia, where he was born.
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