George Lapides at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in 2015.

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By Phil Stukenborg of The Commercial Appeal

George Lapides, whose career as a sports journalist and sports executive spanned five decades and whose knowledge of the city's sport's history was unparalleled, died Friday morning after a three-year battle with a lung disease for which there is no cure.

Lapides, 76, became sports editor and columnist of the old Memphis Press-Scimitar at age 27 and remained in the position until the former afternoon newspaper's closing in October 1983. He also served as athletic director at Rhodes College for a year and general manager of the Memphis Chicks, the minor league baseball team and Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. He spent 10 years as the station's sports editor for WREG-TV Channel 3, which announced his death.

He was most known as a longtime sports talk show host, beginning on WHER in the early 1970s, and maintaining a presence on the air until announcing his retirement from his show on WHBQ-AM 560 May 31. When he signed off, he ended a 45-year run and the distinction of being the longest-running daily radio show in the country.

“He was a talented guy and I always thought he was a step ahead of his time,” said former Memphis businessman and longtime friend Avron B. Fogelman. “He started doing sports talk radio before anyone else really did. He was a smart guy. He was a real icon.”

Shortly after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis — the same illness that struck actor Marlon Brando and former University of Alabama athletic director Mal Moore — Lapides told Geoff Calkins, a former radio co-host and sports columnist at The Commercial Appeal, that "sometimes I have a hard time believing it; I was the person who wanted to be the one exception and live forever."

His passion for life, sports and his community may have been matched only by his passion for food.

Bob Phillips, the Press-Scimitar's executive sports editor at the time of its closing, began his career at the former newspaper as a reporter. He recalls checking in with Lapides by phone while on a out-of-town assignment and, instead of being asked about the event, Lapides would pepper Phillips with food-related questions.

"The first thing George would ask about was not about the game," Phillips said. "It was: 'Where did you eat?' and 'What did you have?' or 'How was the meal?'

"I often think his real desire to was to write about food and review restaurants. I guess the greatest thing for him would have been to own a restaurant and have a sports talk show from the restaurant, kind of like (St. Louis Cardinals baseball announcer) Mike Shannon in St. Louis."

Phillips attended the University of Tennessee with Lapides and worked with him at the Press-Scimitar from 1968 to 1983. Phillips said Lapides touched many lives in the Memphis area, making an impact on others that few knew about.

"I went to WLOK radio's 40th anniversary at the Orpheum (in early June) and Fred Davis, the first African-American city council chairman in Memphis, got up and was talking about how things were different back then and how they had changed (for the better).

"But he said the first time he was elected, he had a lot of help from two people: (attorney) Jimmy Jalenak and George Lapides."

Lapides' ability to attract nationally prominent guests and conduct deep, informative interviews, was a credit to his background in journalism and his natural curiosity. His delivery on radio — which included an occasional stutter — was often mimicked.

"Everyone loved doing a parody of George," Phillips said. "But they were good-natured. George had a personality all his own."

University of Memphis play-by-play announcer Dave Woloshin worked as Lapides' radio show co-host for many years, beginning in 1983. Woloshin said one of the greatest compliments he received came from an upset former U of M basketball coach, Dana Kirk. Woloshin said he had questioned Kirk's soft scheduling on the air and Kirk later admonished Woloshin by calling him "a little Lapides."

"George was on my side and we kind of became friends," Woloshin said.

Lapides' television career began when he joined the WREG-TV Channel 3 staff in the mid-1990s, returning to his journalistic roots as the station's sports editor. He also had a Sunday night sports show on the station.

Glenn Carver, sports director at WREG, said Lapides used his knowledge of the area and his network of contacts to enhance the station's coverage.

"He was a great man, a great journalist," Carver said. "I learned so much from him. I loved it when George came in to work with us (in 1995). It was a chance to work with a legend. I'm going to miss him. I'm going to miss being able to talk to him."

Fogelman said he and Lapides met when Fogelman was 7 years old. Lapides briefly worked for Fogelman after his newspaper career.

“I can tell you this,” Fogelman said. “George’s relationships with sports people extended throughout the country. People often asked if I knew George when I traveled the country and said I was from Memphis. George was a great ambassador for Memphis.”

The funeral service will be 3:30 p.m. Monday at Temple Israel followed by a reception concluding at 5:30 p.m.

A private burial is being held for the family.

Further reading:

Geoff Calkins: George Lapides reflects on a lifetime of sports in the city he loves

Remembering George Lapides: Talking Tigers, Bo Jackson, Russwood Park and more