New York Track and Field Writer Frank Litsky Retiring After 40 Years - Says Sport Needs Several Shots In The Arm
Notes From Track and Field Writers Frank Litsky and Walt Murphy
December 15, 2009
TO MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK TRACK WRITERS ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN TRACK AND FIELD
Since the mid-1930's or even earlier, the New York Track Writers
Association and its members have played an effective role in telling
the world of the glories of the sport and of its occasional dark side.
In weekly luncheon meetings at Mama Leone's, the New York Athletic
Club, Carnegie Deli, DaTommaso's Ristorante and other places, news has
been created and disseminated. The greats of the sport have been our
guests and newsmakers: Jim Ryun, Mary Slaney, Igor Ter-Ovanesyan, Valery Brumel,
Harrison Dillard, Fanny Blankers-Koen, Jumbo Elliott, Bob Giegengack,
Dr. LeRoy Walker, Fred Schmertz, Madeline Manning, Billy Mills, Al
Oerter, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, John Woodruff, Eamonn Coghlan, Bernard
Lagat, and, as a bonus, Prince Albert of Monaco. These are from memory.
There are many more.
Under the firm hand of Jesse Abramson of The New York Herald Tribune,
the consummate track and field writer and the mentor to all of us of a
certain era, the organization thrived. But then there were seven daily
newspapers in the city, five meets on five successive winter weekends
at Madison Square Garden, high-level relay meets galore in the spring
and weekly meetings from January to June.
The landscape has changed. Now there are fewer meets, fewer newspapers,
more pro teams in more sports leading to less space for track and
field. Attendance at Track Writers Association luncheons has dropped
over the years, partly because of the diminished interest in the sport
and diminished outlets. The sport and its public image need many shots
in the arm.
Meanwhile, I have been spending less time with the sport. I retired
last year after 50 years with The New York Times and 61-1/2 years in
the business over all. Last month, I underwent quadruple bypass surgery.
I still love the sport and will stay with it forever, but the
Track Writers Association needs as much revitalization as possible.
That is for younger people to achieve. Accordingly, after 40 years as
president of the Track Writers Association, I am retiring as of this
date.
I thank all of you for your help and interest and encouragement over the years.
Frank Litsky
From Walt Murphy(Secretary/Treasurer)
On behalf of the members of the NY Track Writers Association, I would
like to thank Frank Litsky for his leadership and the passion he
brought to his role as the president of our group for the last four
decades.
While Frank's guidance will certainly be missed, the NY Track Writers Assn. is entering a new and exciting era.
Since the famous Armory/New Balance T&F Center is directly involved
in the conduct of the 2010 Millrose Games, and will play host to more
than 100 meets during the indoor season, it seemed like the right time
to move our lunches uptown to Coogan's(which is right around the corner
from the Armory).
We all wish Frank a speedy recovery from his surgery and look forward to welcoming him as a guest at future lunches.
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