Henry Hardin "Zipp" Newman (May 24, 1894 – March 3, 1977) was an early 20th-century American sportswriter. In 1919 he became the South's youngest sports editor at the Birmingham News and was to become the Dean of Southern sports writers.[1] For 44 years he was the official scorer for baseball's "AA" Southern League. Newman was a correspondent for The Sporting News for many years, and became first associated with the Birmingham News in 1912.[2] He started restricting his duties in 1959 when he became sports editor emeritus, but continued to write his column.[2] Newman was elected to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1975, and started the institution as its first executive secretary.[3]

Zipp Newman
BornHenry Hardin Newman
(1894-05-24)May 24, 1894
Smith Mills, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedMarch 3, 1977(1977-03-03) (aged 82)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
OccupationSportswriter

Newman once said, "Football is a religion in the Southland, played by the boys and relived daily by their families."[4] When Travis Tidwell led Auburn defeated Alabama in 1949, Newman wrote "There has never been a sweeter Auburn victory in all the 58 years of football on the Plains than the Tigers 14-13 win over Alabama."[5]

Early years

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"Zipp" was born on May 24, 1894, in Smith Mills, Kentucky[6] to Henry Haynes Newman and Henriette Beauregard Haynes. He came to Birmingham, Alabama, at a young age. He attended Powell Elementary School, Central High School, and Birmingham-Southern College.

Bibliography

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  • The House of Barons: Record of the Barons since 1900, (1948)
  • 50 Years of Professional Baseball in Alabama, 1950
  • The Impact of Southern Football, 1969

References

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  1. ^ "Henry Hardin "Zipp" Newman".
  2. ^ a b "Obituaries". The Sporting News. March 19, 1977. p. 46.
  3. ^ "Alabama Sports Hall of Fame".
  4. ^ Brent Meyer (August 19, 2004). "Previewing the 2004 SEC". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  5. ^ John Anthony Adams (2004). Rialto. Arcadia. p. 104. ISBN 9780738528922.
  6. ^ U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards Registration State: Alabama; Registration County: Jefferson; Roll: 1509353; Draft Board: 2.