Milt Dunnell | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1905-12-24)December 24, 1905 St. Marys, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | January 3, 2008(2008-01-03) (aged 102) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Sportswriter |
Milton William Ryan Dunnell (December 24, 1905 – January 3, 2008) was a Canadiansportswriter, known chiefly for his work at theToronto Star.
Dunnell was born inSt. Marys, Ontario, Canada on December 24, 1905 and attended St. Marys Collegiate Institute.
After graduating he worked part-time for the post office and a sales representative for a fruit company.[1] Dunnell became a full-time local correspondent for theStratford Beacon Herald in 1929 and stayed as a sports editor until 1942.[2] During his time in Stratford, Dunnell met his future wife Dorothy Theresa Pigeon and they married in the rectory, not a church, due to their mixed religions.[3] Dunnell eventually became the sports editor for theToronto Star where he wrote on almost all sports during his career, including theOlympic Games,Stanley andGrey Cup events, and theKentucky Derby.[2]
During his sports reporting career, Dunnell placed his wallet in his righthand hip pocket, which caused him to be repeatedly pickpocketed. Despite urges to move his wallet, he refused, and fellow reporterJim Coleman would walk paces behind him to ensure there were no thieves.[4]
By the end of his career, he was awarded theElmer Ferguson Memorial Award andJack Graney Award. He was also inducted into theCanadian Football Hall of Fame,[5]Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame,[6]Ontario Sports Hall of Fame,[7] andCanadian Sports Hall of Fame.[8] On June 10, 2006, theCity of Toronto named a baseball diamond after Dunnell.[9]
Dunnell died on January 3, 2008, at the age of 102 atNorth York General Hospital of pneumonia.[10]
