Bill Libby

Bill Libby (1927 – June 17, 1984) was an American writer and biographer best known for books on sports including 65 on sports figures.[2][3]

Bill Libby
Born1927/1928
Atlantic City, New Jersey
DiedJune 16, 1984 (aged 56–57)[1]
Westminster, California
LanguageEnglish
NationalityAmerican
Alma materIndiana University
Notable worksChampions of College Football
Notable awards
  • National Magazine Sportswriter of the Year (1964)
  • Bill Libby Memorial Award (eponymous) (1968)
  • So Cal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2004)
SpouseSharon
ChildrenAllyson, Laurie Libby

Early years

Libby graduated from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, also attended by several notable authors including Kurt Vonnegut.[3] He attended Indiana University then served in the Navy.[3] In the 1950s, Libby was sports editor of the Herald Statesman, then later worked for the New York Post.[2]

Works

Libby wrote several books on sports figures including Rod Carew, Wilt Chamberlin, Phil Esposito, A.J. Foyt, Catfish Hunter, Fred Lynn, Rocky Marciano, Pete Rose, O.J. Simpson, Willie Stargell, and Fran Tarkenton as well as books on hockey, auto racing, professional football, and college football.

He also co-wrote several books on celebrities and sports people including Nancy Reagan, the Roosevelt family, Rick Barry, Vida Blue, Monty Hall, Richard Petty, John Roseboro, Nolan Ryan, and Jerry West.

Libby national champions

Libby's 1975 book Champions of College Football selected a single college football national champion from the 1900 to 1974 college football seasons.[4] As the highest level of college football does not have an official national champion, Libby's selections are often referenced by the athletic department of the selected university.

SeasonChampionRecordCoach
1900Yale12–0Malcolm McBride
1901Michigan11–0Fielding H. Yost
1902Michigan11–0Fielding H. Yost
1903Princeton11–0Art Hillebrand
1904Minnesota13–0Henry Williams
1905Chicago10–0Amos Alonzo Stagg
1906Princeton9–0–1William Roper
1907Yale9–0–1William F. Knox
1908Penn11–0–1Sol Metzger
1909Yale10–0Howard Jones
1910Washington6–0Gil Dobie
1911Carlisle11–1Glenn "Pop" Warner
1912Harvard9–0Percy Haughton
1913Notre Dame7–0Jesse Harper
1914Illinois7–0Robert Zuppke
1915Pittsburgh8–0Glenn "Pop" Warner
1916Army9–0Charles Daly
1917Georgia Tech9–0John Heisman
1918Pittsburgh4–1Glenn "Pop" Warner
1919Notre Dame9–0Knute Rockne
1920California9–0Andy Smith
1921Iowa7–0Howard Jones
1922Cornell8–0Gil Dobie
1923Illinois8–0Robert Zuppke
1924Notre Dame10–0Knute Rockne
1925Alabama10–0Wallace Wade
1926Navy9–0–1Bill Ingram
1927Texas A&M8–0–1Dana X. Bible
1928Georgia Tech10–0William Alexander
1929Tulane9–0Bernie Bierman
1930Notre Dame10–0Knute Rockne
1931Tennessee9–0–1Robert Neyland
1932USC10–0Howard Jones
1933Princeton9–0Fritz Crisler
1934Alabama10–0Frank Thomas
1935Minnesota8–0Bernie Bierman
1936Northwestern7–1Pappy Waldorf
1937Pittsburgh9–0–1Jock Sutherland
1938Tennessee11–0Robert Neyland
1939Texas A&M11–0Homer Norton
1940Stanford10–0Clark Shaughnessy
1941Minnesota8–0Bernie Bierman
1942Georgia11–1Wally Butts
1943Notre Dame9–1Frank Leahy
1944Army9–0Earl Blaik
1945Army9–0Earl Blaik
1946Notre Dame8–0–1Frank Leahy
1947Michigan10–0Fritz Crisler
1948Michigan9–0Bennie Oosterbaan
1949Notre Dame10–0Frank Leahy
1950Kentucky11–1Paul "Bear" Bryant
1951Maryland10–0Jim Tatum
1952Michigan State9–0Biggie Munn
1953Notre Dame9–0–1Frank Leahy
1954UCLA9–0Henry Sanders
1955Oklahoma11–0Bud Wilkinson
1956Oklahoma10–0Bud Wilkinson
1957Auburn10–0Ralph Jordan
1958LSU11–0Paul Dietzel
1959Syracuse11–0Ben Schwartzwalder
1960Ole Miss10–0–1Johnny Vaught
1961Alabama11–0Paul "Bear" Bryant
1962USC11–0John McKay
1963Texas11–0Darrell Royal
1964Arkansas11–0Frank Broyles
1965Michigan State10–1Duffy Daugherty
1966Notre Dame9–0–1Ara Parseghian
1967USC10–1John McKay
1968Ohio State10–0Woody Hayes
1969Texas11–0Darrell Royal
1970Nebraska11–0–1Bob Devaney
1971Nebraska13–0Bob Devaney
1972USC12–0John McKay
1973Notre Dame11–0Ara Parseghian
1974Oklahoma11–0Barry Switzer

Awards

In 1964, Libby was named National Magazine Sportswriter of the Year. He was named to the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.[5]

Family

Libby and wife Sharon had two daughters, Allyson and Laurie Libby.[2]

See also

References
  1. AP. "BILL LIBBY". Retrieved 2018-10-03.
  2. "BILL LIBBY". The New York Times. 18 June 1984.
  3. "The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana on June 17, 1984 · Page 30".
  4. Libby, Bill (1975). Champions of College Football. Hawthorne Books, Inc. pp. 11–14. ISBN 0-8015-1196-8.
  5. "Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Home". www.scjewishsportshof.com.
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