- David L. "Dave" Diles
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David L. "Dave" Diles was a former American sports broadcaster and journalist, as well as an author. He was a broadcaster for ABC sports and hosted the “Prudential College Football Scoreboard Show”.
Contents
Early Life
Dave Diles was born October 14, 1931 in Middleport, Ohio. At the age of 13 he started working at the local newspaper, The Daily Sentinel in Pomeroy, Ohio delivering newspapers.
Dave moved to Athens, Ohio and attended Ohio University. He then worked for a local newspaper, the Athens Messenger and later the Associated Press in Columbus, Ohio and Detroit until 1961.
Career
In 1961 he became ABC affiliate’s sport director until 1972 and then again from 1979 to 1982.
He hosted many other sports broadcasting programs including: College Football Scoreboard, Wide World of Sports, the Indianapolis 500, Olympic Games, NASCAR auto racing, professional golf, track and field, and college football play by play. He is also known for hosting “Race for No. 1” and “The Big Ten Today”.
During the 60s, 70s, and 80s Diles was the host of a local Detroit sports radio broadcasting show called “Dial Dave Diles”. This was the city’s first radio sports talk show.
Diles is known for his work for commentating play by play for the LA Clippers, Detroit Lions, and Pistons and the Ohio State basketball team. He also covered the Olympics.
He also wrote eight books about network television sports and the experiences of coaches and players in the professional and college sport business.
Diles was also the president of both the Football Writes of America, Michigan Chapter, and the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.
Awards and Honors
Diles was awarded many honors in the sports world. Some include:
• Three times named the Associated Press Sportscaster of the Year
• Received four Associated Press Documentary Awards
• National Sports Service Award from Sport Magazine
• National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame
• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
• Inducted into the Michigan Media Hall of Fame
• Inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2006
• Received the Silver circle Award from The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
Later Life
Diles received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio University. He established a scholarship at the University for students from his hometown in Meigs County. He was also a trustee for another local college, The University of Rio Grande.
Dave Diles died on December 29, 2009 after a long battle with cancer which caused him to have a stroke. He was 78 years old.
Diles’ hometown named a park after him. The Dave Diles Park is named in his honor located in his hometown of Middleport Ohio, along the banks of the Ohio River.
References
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?n=david-l-diles&pid=137964563
Categories:- 1931 births
- 2009 deaths
- People from Ohio
- American sports journalists
- Ohio University alumni
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