Frank Deford

Date of Birth: December 16, 1938

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: May 28, 2017

Biography

Frank Deford was an American sportswriter and novelist, widely regarded as one of the most talented and influential sports journalists of his time. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Deford’s career spanned over five decades, during which he worked for Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio (NPR), and HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.” His unique style of storytelling, which often delved deep into the human aspects of sports, garnered him numerous awards and accolades. Deford authored more than a dozen books, both fiction and non-fiction, including “Alex: The Life of a Child,” a poignant memoir about his daughter who passed away from cystic fibrosis. In addition to his writing, Deford was also known for his advocacy work for cystic fibrosis research and treatment.

5 Interesting Facts about Frank Deford

1. Frank Deford was inducted into the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 1998.

2. He received the National Magazine Award for profiles for his work in Sports Illustrated.

3. Deford appeared on NPR’s “Morning Edition” every Wednesday for 37 years, providing commentary on sports.

4. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2013.

5. Deford served as the chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for 16 years, advocating for research and funding.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Frank Deford

1. “Sport is a wonderful metaphor for life.”

2. “I believe that professional wrestling is clean and everything else in the world is fixed.”

3. “You can tell all you need to about a society from how it treats animals and beaches.”

4. “Winners never quit and quitters never win.”

5. “A sportswriter is entombed in a prolonged boyhood.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Frank Deford’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.

Children

Frank Deford had three children: two daughters, Alexandra (“Alex”) and Scarlett, and a son, Christian. Tragically, his daughter Alex passed away at the age of eight due to cystic fibrosis, which inspired Deford to write his memoir “Alex: The Life of a Child.”