Remembering Furman Bisher

[Mr. C]

A friend of FCS and one of the best sports columnists EVER, Atlanta Journal-Constitution icon Furman Bisher, passed away Sunday at the age of 93. He was a frequent visitor to Georgia Southern games and wrote plenty over the years on Erk Russell.

Here is a column eulogizing Bisher in College Sports Journal (www.college-sports-journal.com):

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/78-college-sports-journal/david-coulson/196-a-columnists-columnist-remembering-furman-bisher

Here is a link to Bisher's obit of Erk Russell from 2006:

Russell taught athletes how to be men

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/sportscolumns/entries/2006/09/08/russell_taught.html

[blueballs]

Bisher (who was a Furman alum) was one of the last links to a bygone romantic era of sports journalism when the writer painted a picture of the event or people he covered. There was no sportscenter and no national sports news shows in his era, only his imagination and dedication. He is one of the greatest sportswriters ever. His accounts of the Masters through the years are some of the greatest articles one can read.

In retrospect I was lucky as a boy growing up in Georgia to be able to read Bisher at the AJC and Harley Bowers at the Macon Telegraph on a consistent basis. They were both great writers and played a large part in al the sports fans lives in the deep south. They don't make 'em like those two anymore.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Nice work. Some great pictures of Bisher in the remembrance piece, too.

[Mr. C]

Here are a couple of links from Bisher columns on former Georgia Southern coach Paul Johnson, who Bisher greatly admired:

http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/09/12/techs-johnson-ranks-with-the-greatest/

http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/08/22/paul-johnsons-message-is-clear/

And here is a link to what AJC calls Bisher's Best:

http://www.ajc.com/news/furman-bishers-best-columns-159110.html

[citdog]

what a HORRIBLE first name for such a good man.

[blueballs]

Bisher's ghost written autobiography of Hank Aaron is titled "Aaron, RF" and I can't recll the exact year it was released but it was in the late 1960's.

As a young kid growing up in Georgia in the mid to late 60's Hank Aaron was larger than life in my eyes. My folks took me to a book signing with Aaron at the old Rich's dept store in downtown Atlanta where I got to meet Aaron, buy the book, and have it personally autographed. It was the first sports autograph I ever got and I still have the book today.

[ThompsonThe]

I never met the man, but felt like I knew him well.
Have an empty feeling knowing that he is gone.

[Mr. C]

what a HORRIBLE first name for such a good man.

Only you could bring a smile to mey face on a subject like death. By the way, his real name was James Furman Bisher. I guess Furman was a lot more memorable than James. Maybe I should change my name to "Citadel.' Another biographical note is that Bisher graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (won't hold that against him), but he hinted that he around a few other schools before graduating.

[caribbeanhen]

Bisher (who was a Furman alum) was one of the last links to a bygone romantic era of sports journalism when the writer painted a picture of the event or people he covered. There was no sportscenter and no national sports news shows in his era, only his imagination and dedication. He is one of the greatest sportswriters ever. His accounts of the Masters through the years are some of the greatest articles one can read.

In retrospect I was lucky as a boy growing up in Georgia to be able to read Bisher at the AJC and Harley Bowers at the Macon Telegraph on a consistent basis. They were both great writers and played a large part in al the sports fans lives in the deep south. They don't make 'em like those two anymore.

We have a lot in common....RIP Furman

[Ivytalk]

Furman Bisher belongs in the pantheon of great American sportswriters, along with Jim Murray, Murray Chass, Ring Lardner, Leonard Koppett, Red Smith, Shirley Povich, and Roger Angell (to name just a few).

[tractorapp]

what a HORRIBLE first name for such a good man.

For once, something we agree on.