Atlanta Journal-Constitution Golf writer Furman Bisher Passes away
Famed Atlanta Journal-Constitution golf writer Furman Bisher passed away in tragic circumstances on Sunday, March 18, jolted down by a massive heart attack.
Reported by his wife Lynda, Bisher had taken a day off from his normal routine and had plans of watching golf on Sunday evening until he went into a dreadful fit.
Lynda called in 911 but Bisher succumbed to the massive cardiac arrest and passed away in a local hospital.
The 93-year-old Bisher has been known as the writing-God among the golf fans and critics and his glistening career spanned over a jaw-dropping six decades.
The renowned journalist finally announced his retirement in 2009 after working for Georgia Newspaper for an astounding 59 years. He used his age old typewriter which he has been using since 1950 until he wrote his last column.
Bisher said on the day of his retirement, “I just decided that's enough ...I just won't be writing a column”.
The North Carolina native remained associated with several renowned newspapers and journals in his distinguished career including Sports Illustrated and Sunday Evening Post etc.
He also had the honour of writing several books in his career including an autobiography of baseball great Hank Aaron.
AJC Editor Jim Minter said, "He put more quality words on newsprint than any other writer in the last half of the 20th century. He never wrote a bad column”.
AJC sports editor Ray Cox also issued a statement lauding the services of the late journalist, both for the sport he remained associated with as well as the field of Journalism.
Cox said, "Mr. Bisher was as passionate about the AJC in his final days as he ever was. And he was always a perfect Southern gentleman. He was first and foremost a journalist but one whose ability to write far surpassed the skills of most of us who came
into the business hoping to emulate him”.
Bisher kicked off his writing career in 1938 with the Lumberton Voice in North Carolina and in a short span of two years, became the editor of Charlotte News.
After his retirement, Bisher rarely chose to write and mostly covered stories for AJC only during important events. He had his plans of covering Masters this year, little realising that he will never get the chance to do so.
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