Dave Diles

For his son, seeDave Diles Jr.

David L. Diles(October 14, 1931 – December 29, 2009) was an American sports broadcaster, journalist, and author. He was a broadcaster forABC Sportsand hosted thePrudentialCollege Football Scoreboard Show.

Early life

Dave Diles was born October 14, 1931, inMiddleport, Ohio.At age 13 he started delivering the local newspaper,The Daily Sentinel,inPomeroy, Ohio.

Diles moved toAthens, Ohio,and attendedOhio University.He then worked for a local newspaper, theAthens Messenger,and later theAssociated PressinColumbusandDetroituntil 1961.

Career

In 1961, he became sports director of ABC's Detroit stationWXYZ-TVuntil 1972 and then again from 1979 to 1982.

He hosted many other sports broadcasting programs, includingCollege Football Scoreboard,Wide World of Sports,theIndianapolis 500,Olympic Games,NASCARauto racing, professionalgolf,bowling,track and field,andcollege footballplay by play.He is also known for hostingRace for No. 1andThe Big Ten Today.

During the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, Diles was the host of a local Detroit sports radio broadcasting show calledDial Dave Diles.This was the city's first radiosports talkshow.

Diles is known for his work for commentating play by play for theLos Angeles Clippers,Detroit LionsandPistons,and theOhio State basketballteam. He also covered the Olympics.

He wrote eight books about network television sports and the experiences of coaches and players in the professional and college sport business. This included co-authoring 1979'sTerry Bradshaw, Man of Steel,aChristian-themed autobiographyof thePittsburgh Steeler quarterback.

Diles was the president of the Football Writers of America, Michigan Chapter, and the Detroit Sports Media Association.

Outside of sports, Diles was a substitute host forLou Gordonon occasion.

Recognition

Diles was awarded many honors in the sports world. Some include:

• Three times named the Associated Press Sportscaster of the Year
• Received four Associated Press Documentary Awards
• National Sports Service Award fromSport Magazine
• National Football FoundationandHall of Fame
• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
• Inducted into the Michigan Media Hall of Fame
• Inducted into theMichigan Sports Hall of Famein 2006
• Received the Silver Circle Award from theNational Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

Later life

Diles received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio University.He established a scholarship at the University for students from his hometown inMeigs County.He was a trustee for another local college, TheUniversity of Rio Grande.

Dave Diles died on December 29, 2009, after a battle with cancer which caused a stroke. He was 78 years old.

Diles' hometown named a park after him. The Dave Diles Park is named in his honor located in his hometown of Middleport, Ohio, along the banks of theOhio River.