Mike Royko

Date of Birth: September 19, 1932

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: April 29, 1997

Biography

Mike Royko was an American newspaper columnist who became a Chicago institution through his incisive and often humorous commentary on urban life and politics. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Royko spent over three decades writing for various Chicago newspapers, including the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Chicago Tribune. His columns, which were syndicated in more than 600 newspapers across the United States, earned him a Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1972. Royko’s work often focused on the everyday lives of Chicagoans, political corruption, and social justice issues. He was known for his sharp wit, unflinching honesty, and deep love for his hometown. Royko authored several books, with “Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago” being one of his most famous works, offering a critical look at Chicago’s political machine.

5 Interesting Facts about Mike Royko

1. Mike Royko won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1972.

2. His book “Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago” is considered a seminal work on Chicago politics.

3. Royko served in the United States Air Force before beginning his journalism career.

4. He wrote over 7,500 daily columns throughout his career.

5. Royko was known for his love of Chicago, often referring to it as the “City of Big Shoulders.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mike Royko

1. “Show me somebody who is always smiling, always cheerful, always optimistic, and I will show you somebody who hasn’t the faintest idea about what the heck is really going on.”

2. “No self-respecting fish would be wrapped in a Murdoch paper.”

3. “Hating the Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax.”

4. “It’s been my policy to view the Internet not as an ‘information highway,’ but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies.”

5. “Chicago is not the most corrupt American city. It’s the most theatrically corrupt.”