Arthur George Rust Jr. (October 13, 1927 – January 12, 2010) was a successful sports broadcaster for half a century. He was also a sports historian and author. He was considered by many to have been the godfather of sports talk radio.[1]
After he graduated from Long Island University, he was hired by WWRL Radio in Woodside, Queens in September 1954 . He began in their merchandising department, but within two months he got on the air. At WWRL, Rust hosted the Schaefer Circle of Sports for 14 years, becoming one of the first African American sportcasters. At WWRL, Rust interviewed sports icons such as Hank Aaron and Sonny Liston. A music lover, Rust mixed up shows with interviews with artists like James Brown and Miles Davis, who was also a close friend.[1]
In 1967, Rust landed a position as a sports announcer for NBC-TV. After some six years with NBC, Rust decided to return to the radio. He went on to work as sports director for WMCA, and as a sportscaster and commentator for WINS radio.
His first book, the controversially titled Get that Nigger off the Field, published in 1976, explores the rocky beginnings of blacks in baseball. Other books include Joe Louis, My Life (1978), a collaboration with the Brown Bomber; Recollections of a Baseball Junkie (1985) in which Rust waxes poetically about his life; Art Rust's Illustrated History of the Black Athlete which celebrates greats such as Jessie Owens and Althea Gibson; and Darryl with Darryl Strawberry (1992).[2]
He collaborated with his wife Edna on several of these books prior to her death in 1986. Devastated by the loss, for years after, Rust delivered a "Goodnight Edna baby," at the end of each "Sportstalk" broadcast. After some time he found a partner in Patty Murphy and remarried in 1991. He was the father of Suzanne Rust, a writer based in New York, and grandfather to her two young children.
Later careeredit
Rust worked with New York's WBLS Radio from 1991 to 1994, but the last few years found him working selectively. He was a contributor for Black Issues Book Review and kept up with the world of sports through books, newspapers and his friends in the business. His favorite pastimes were doting on his two grandchildren and listening to his extensive collection of jazz records.
rust, arthur, george, rust, october, 1927, january, 2010, successful, sports, broadcaster, half, century, also, sports, historian, author, considered, many, have, been, godfather, sports, talk, radio, wabc, photo, bornarthur, george, rust, 1927, october, 1927h. Arthur George Rust Jr October 13 1927 January 12 2010 was a successful sports broadcaster for half a century He was also a sports historian and author He was considered by many to have been the godfather of sports talk radio 1 Art Rust Jr Art Rust Jr WABC photo BornArthur George Rust Jr 1927 10 13 October 13 1927Harlem New York U S DiedJanuary 12 2010 2010 01 12 aged 82 NationalityAmericanAlma materLong Island UniversityOccupation s Broadcaster author and sports historianSpouse s Edna d 1986 PattyChildrenSuzanne Contents 1 Career 1 1 Broadcaster 1 2 Writer 2 Later career 3 Selected works 4 ReferencesCareer editBroadcaster edit After he graduated from Long Island University he was hired by WWRL Radio in Woodside Queens in September 1954 He began in their merchandising department but within two months he got on the air At WWRL Rust hosted the Schaefer Circle of Sports for 14 years becoming one of the first African American sportcasters At WWRL Rust interviewed sports icons such as Hank Aaron and Sonny Liston A music lover Rust mixed up shows with interviews with artists like James Brown and Miles Davis who was also a close friend 1 In 1967 Rust landed a position as a sports announcer for NBC TV After some six years with NBC Rust decided to return to the radio He went on to work as sports director for WMCA and as a sportscaster and commentator for WINS radio In 1981 he signed on with WABC for his Sportstalk show He interviewed everyone from Joe DiMaggio to Muhammad Ali Sugar Ray Robinson and one of his idols sportscaster Red Barber Writer edit Rust had been a columnist for The New York Amsterdam News and the Daily News he was also an author His first book the controversially titled Get that Nigger off the Field published in 1976 explores the rocky beginnings of blacks in baseball Other books include Joe Louis My Life 1978 a collaboration with the Brown Bomber Recollections of a Baseball Junkie 1985 in which Rust waxes poetically about his life Art Rust s Illustrated History of the Black Athlete which celebrates greats such as Jessie Owens and Althea Gibson and Darryl with Darryl Strawberry 1992 2 He collaborated with his wife Edna on several of these books prior to her death in 1986 Devastated by the loss for years after Rust delivered a Goodnight Edna baby at the end of each Sportstalk broadcast After some time he found a partner in Patty Murphy and remarried in 1991 He was the father of Suzanne Rust a writer based in New York and grandfather to her two young children Later career editRust worked with New York s WBLS Radio from 1991 to 1994 but the last few years found him working selectively He was a contributor for Black Issues Book Review and kept up with the world of sports through books newspapers and his friends in the business His favorite pastimes were doting on his two grandchildren and listening to his extensive collection of jazz records Rust died on January 12 2010 3 4 Selected works editRust Art Jr Get That Nigger Off the Field A Sparkling Informal History of the Black Man in baseball 1976 Rust Art Jr Rust Edna Louis Joe Joe Louis My Life 1978 Rust Art Jr Baseball Quiz Book 1985 Rust Art Jr Rust Edna Art Rust s Illustrated History of the Black athlete 1985 Rust Art Jr Rust Edna Recollections of a Baseball Junkie 1985 Rust Art Jr Legends Conversations with Baseball Greats 1989 Rust Art Jr Strawberry Darryl Darryl 1992References edit a b Hinckley David Sports radio pioneer Art Rust dies at 82 New York Daily News Thursday January 14th 2010 Goldstein Richard Art Rust Jr Pioneer in Sports Talk Radio Dies at 82 The New York Times January 13 2010 Pioneering black sportscaster Art Rust Jr dies Yahoo Sports 2010 01 13 Archived from the original on 2011 06 22 Retrieved 2010 01 14 New York Sportscaster Art Rust Dies At Age 82 permanent dead link NY1 News Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Art Rust Jr amp oldid 1113566008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
