If you’re a sports fan, you might think Will Grimsley had the best job in the world. A sportswriter for the “The Nashville Tennessean” for eleven years before his legendary career with the Associated Press began in 1943, Grimsley went to twenty-five Kentucky Derbies, thirty-five World Series, nine Summer and six Winter Olympics, and many hundreds more sporting events. Granted, it was not all play for Grimsley; he had to earn his keep. And earn it he did in grand style. The byline of Will Grimsley of the Associated Press was one of the best known in the sports world. His daily column, “Grimsley’s Sports World,” was read by millions, and the many honors and awards he received reflected the respect and admiration the sports world had for the man. He was voted National Sportswriter of the Year three times and became the first wire service writer to receive the prestigious Red Smith Award for sports writing in 1987. Tennessee native Grimsley moved to McMinnville at the age of six and later attended Nashville’s Hume Fogg High School. He officially retired from his AP Special Correspondent post in 1984 after an amazing fifty years of quality sports writing. A Tennessee treasure, Will Grimsley will always be appreciated and remembered for the insight and skill he brought to his fine reporting.
