Writer and Humorist. He was born at Fort Benning, Georgia but at a young age moved to Moreland, Georgia, where he was raised by his mother Christine. A sports fan since childhood, he graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism. By age twenty-three, he was the sports editor for the Atlanta Journal. He later became sports editor for the Chicago Sun-Times. Becoming homesick for Georgia, he stayed with the Sun-Times for only a short period of time before he moved back to Atlanta as a columnist for the Atlanta Constitution. He wrote of his experiences in Chicago in his book "If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground". He authored over twenty books, and his column was syndicated in 450 newspapers across the country. Suffering from a congenital heart defect, he received over fifty thousand get well cards and letters after his third valve replacement surgery. While hospitalized, he died from complications of a fourth valve replacement operation. As he wished, he was cremated, and part of his ashes were scattered at the 50-yard line of Sanford Stadium at his beloved University of Georgia.
Writer and Humorist. He was born at Fort Benning, Georgia but at a young age moved to Moreland, Georgia, where he was raised by his mother Christine. A sports fan since childhood, he graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism. By age twenty-three, he was the sports editor for the Atlanta Journal. He later became sports editor for the Chicago Sun-Times. Becoming homesick for Georgia, he stayed with the Sun-Times for only a short period of time before he moved back to Atlanta as a columnist for the Atlanta Constitution. He wrote of his experiences in Chicago in his book "If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground". He authored over twenty books, and his column was syndicated in 450 newspapers across the country. Suffering from a congenital heart defect, he received over fifty thousand get well cards and letters after his third valve replacement surgery. While hospitalized, he died from complications of a fourth valve replacement operation. As he wished, he was cremated, and part of his ashes were scattered at the 50-yard line of Sanford Stadium at his beloved University of Georgia.
Bio by: Phil Hamilton
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A Great American
Son of Christine W. Atkinson
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