Dan Jenkins, a sports writing legend who penned prose for outlets ranging from Sports Illustrated to Playboy, died at the age of 89 in his hometown of Fort Worth.
The author of best-sellers Semi-Tough, Baja Oklahoma and Dead Solid Perfect, Jenkins started his writing career at The Fort Worth Press and moved on to find stardom at Sports Illustrated.
During more than two decades at the publication, he wrote more than 500 stories, a record, according to TCU Magazine. In addition to working at SI, Jenkins also worked as a columnist for Playboy and Golf Digest.
A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Jenkins is also a member of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. He is a recipient of the PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing as well.
After news of his death became public, tributes poured in on social media.
I'm a sportswriter. I've made a good living of it. I feel like I'm pretty good at it.
Dan Jenkins is one of those writers who makes me feel as if I shouldn't even bother. It's like being a songwriter and comparing myself to Brian Wilson.
I'll miss his writing.
— Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan) March 8, 2019
Dan Jenkins wrote a lot of great stuff, and obviously he influenced golf writing more than just about anyone, but for my money, this lede (especially the first sentence) about Joe Namath is one of the best every written. Raising a glass to Dan tonight. Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/r0iFT1LP0d
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) March 8, 2019
Dan Jenkins is on the Mount Rushmore of sportswriters. A character; creative without being ostentatious; perfect BS detector; a man who constantly saw a path otherwise missed. Every so often I go into the SI archives and read random Jenkins pieces, never misses. RIP.
— scott pianowski (@scott_pianowski) March 8, 2019
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
