Neal Russo
Aniello"Neal"Russo(June 12, 1920 – March 6, 1996) was an Americansportswriter.
Russo was one of 14 children born toItalianimmigrants and grocers Thomasina and Pietro Russo inFarrell, Pennsylvania.[1]He graduated fromFarrell High Schoolin 1938,[2]and later from theUniversity of Pittsburghat the top of his class.[3]
DuringWorld War II,he served in the434th Fighter SquadroninUnited States Army Air Forces,primarily atRAF Wattisham.He wrote the479th Fighter Group's newspaper,Kontak,for which pilotRobin Oldscreated cartoons.[4]
After the war, Russo moved toSt. Louis, Missouriand began a 43-year career at theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch.He was on theSt. Louis Brownsbeat for their final two seasons in St. Louis in 1952–1953.[1]He succeededBob Broegand precededRick Hummelon theSt. Louis Cardinalsbeat from 1959 to 1978.[1][5]His unconventional work practices and antics around the offices of thePost-Dispatch,Busch Stadium,and beyond included weight-loss challenges and stand-up comedy routines.[1][6][7]
Russo moonlit as an official scorer and as acrosswordpuzzle writer. On April 6, 1978, he made a controversial call that resulted inBob Forsch's firstno-hitter.[8]
He coveredSt. Louis Flyers hockey,bo xing, and youth sports.[6]In addition to his work with thePost-Dispatch,he contributed toSports IllustratedandThe Sporting News.[1]
Russo died of congestive heart failure on March 6, 1996, in St. Louis.[7]He was posthumously inducted to the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.[9]
References
[edit]- ^abcdeWheatley, Tom (March 7, 1996). "Neal Russo, an Institution at Post, Dies".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.ProQuest305145028.(subscription required)
- ^"Farrell Senior High School - Farrell, Pennsylvania - Class of 1938 Alumni".pedasfamily.Retrieved2018-04-07.
- ^Compiled, F.R. (March 22, 2002). "Worrell to Be Guest Speaker at the Hall of Fame Dinner".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.ProQuest402054858.(subscription required)
- ^Fairfield, Terry A. (2004).The 479th Fighter Group in World War II: in action over Europe with the P-38 and P-51.Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History.ISBN9780764320569.OCLC58653175.
- ^"STL Press Club 2014 Honorees".stlpressclub.org.Retrieved2018-04-07.
- ^abWheatley, Tom (March 10, 1996). "The Natural: Russo Swung for Fences, Played to Grandstand".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.ProQuest305149564.(subscription required)
- ^abBertelson, Christine (March 7, 1996). "A Man Who Spoke Latin and Sold Rubber Chickens".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.ProQuest305148400.(subscription required)
- ^Kaplan, Jim (24 July 1978)."Do they really know the score?".Sports Illustrated.Retrieved2018-04-07.
- ^"St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame".2018-04-07.