He is without a doubt one of the most prominent people to ever live in Pueblo and among the most notable journalists, screenwriters and authors in history.

Alfred Damon Runyan, who later became known as Damon Runyon, was born in Manhattan, Kan., on Oct. 8, 1880, and would go on to leave an indelible mark on the world.

Runyon’s father, a printer named Al Runyon, moved Damon, Damon’s mother and Damon’s three sisters to Pueblo when Damon was a child, according to the book “Pueblo: A Pictorial History.”

Runyon’s mother was sick, and his father hoped a healthier climate would benefit her. A.L. took a job in Pueblo as a printer for The Pueblo Chieftain, but unfortunately, his wife died in 1887 of diphtheria and tuberculosis, according to Colorado Encyclopedia.

Following her death, Damon’s three sisters moved in with relatives in Kansas, while he stayed in Pueblo with his father.

Al Runyon was a writer and printer who worked for a variety of Pueblo newspapers including The Chieftain and the Pueblo Evening Press.

Al and Damon lived in a variety of places before finally settling in at the Mount Pleasant boarding house at the corner of Summit and Sixth Street, according to the book.

Damon Runyon, in his later years, said that he was a “bad little boy” while growing up.

He was formally expelled from school around the fourth or fifth grade, and that’s when his career in journalism began, according to the Encyclopedia.

When Runyon was 12 years old, he was hired as a reporter for the Pueblo Evening Press.

At age 15, Runyon reported a hanging for the Press.

The Encyclopedia notes that despite his age, he already demonstrated some of the skills that later would make his reputation, such as a talent for exposing the rich detail in a story; a knack for making interesting characters come to life; and a clever narrative style that left readers always wanting more.

At age 17, Runyon wanted to to join the Army as the United States went to war with the Philippines, but was rejected from the Colorado unit because of his age.

Undeterred, he joined the Minnesota unit and arrived in the Philippines on Sept. 1, 1898.

After 11 months there, Runyon returned to Pueblo to work at The Chieftain. Runyon made his return back to Pueblo by train-hopping, befriending many drifters that he met along the way, according to the Encyclopedia. Those he met during that time would play starring roles in his stories and movie scripts later in his career.

After returning to Pueblo, Runyon soon moved to the Colorado Springs Gazette, and by 1904, he was writing at The Denver Post.

While at The Post, he became a sports reporter and met his future wife there.

He also served a stint writing at The Rocky Mountain News in Denver.

By 1909, he formally became known as Damon Runyon and was writing for William Randolph Hearst’s American.

Runyon married his wife, Ellen Egan, in New York City in 1911 as the two had moved there. But the life of a sportswriter who spent his nights at sporting events followed by saloon visits made for a bad marriage, according to the book.

The couple had two children. Egan died in November 1931 at age 44, and her sister assumed care of the children.

Runyon fought problems with alcohol for much of his early life, which cost him jobs and diminished his success, according to the Colorado Encyclopedia.

In New York City, Runyon landed a job with the New York Journal-American.

After spending four years as a sportswriter, Runyon moved on to political reporting.

He also kept himself busy by writing screenplays. By the end of his life, 16 of them had been adapted into major Hollywood releases, according to the Encyclopedia.

Some of the most famous movies and plays associated with Runyon include “Guys and Dolls”, “Little Miss Marker”, “Lady for a Day”, and “”The Lemon Drop Kid.

Runyon died of cancer at age 66 in December 1946.

He still is remembered for his time in Pueblo. Thousands of youngsters and adults have enjoyed the Runyon Field baseball complex in the center of town.

rseverance@chieftain.com

Twitter: RyanSevvy