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When I nominated Ron Bracken for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Hall of Fame last year, I noted his many contributions to the craft of sports writing and his support of others who followed in his journalistic footsteps.
Many people were echoing those sentiments this past week after learning that Ron had passed away at the age of 81.
An obituary story in the Centre Daily Times newspaper noted that Ron worked there “from 1967 to 2008 as a sports reporter, editor and columnist, leaving an enduring legacy after countless interviews, deadlines and bylines.”
Ron was inducted into seven halls of fame, the CDT story noted: Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, Centre County Sports, National Wrestling, Pennsylvania Wrestling, District 6 Wrestling, Bald Eagle Area Wrestling and District 6 Softball.
He won countless state and national writing awards, many of which were showcased in the 2003 book “Replays: A collection of veteran football writer Ron Bracken’s award-winning articles and personal favorites” – available on Amazon, AbeBooks and other platforms.
Longtime BEA wrestling coach Dick Rhoades told the CDT: “I’ll tell you what, he deserved all of his awards.”
As a CDT newsroom manager at the time, I worked with Ron on that book and learned much about the writing craft, what it means to have a deep commitment to local sports, and the work of organizing and leading a significant project.
“Replays” was my first book experience – paving the way for many more in the years since.
In his book acknowledgements, Ron credited me for my efforts, as I “proofread the copy, laid out the pages and provided a necessary morale boost when I began to have second thoughts.”
The stories in that book are superb, a must-have for fans of Penn State football history and anyone who appreciates the importance of local journalism in telling the narrative and preserving the legacies of communities and their heroes – in athletics and beyond.
“Replays” includes many sports stories whose messages transcended competition – profiling a former player who adopted an AIDS-stricken girl, celebrating the accomplishments of an area World War II hero, recounting the funeral of a fallen scoutmaster, and even spotlighting a walk-on football player whose father was serving a life prison sentence for his days as a Mafia hitman.
Bracken called the book “a collection of highlights from a career spent doing what I love to do as well as I could do it.”
Which was very good indeed.
I followed Ron’s path from rural Centre County and “The Hill” neighborhood above Port Matilda through the halls of Bald Eagle Area High School – where we were a generation apart.
I worked under him and learned from him, then worked alongside him, and eventually led the newsroom where he did such great work.
Right before I left State College to become the editor of The Tribune-Democrat, Ron wrote in my copy of “Replays”: “It still amazes me that two guys from Port (Matilda) and BEA pulled this off. We’re better than a lot of people may have thought we were.”
I don’t recall a time when anyone doubted Ron’s talent or determination.
I read his work before I even had a thought about doing the same myself, and gained much insight from his way with words and phrases, and from his devotion to the local scene and the people whose passion fueled the teams and towns he covered.
The book process included some of the numerous times we shared ideas and read each other’s copy, sat together at games or tournaments, or exchanged stories over coffee or a cold beverage.
Ron was a consummate storyteller – on and off the job, as many have said in social media posts in recent days. He could recall every detail of a season, a game, a conversation – and relive them with flair.
He was a mentor to many up-and-coming sports professionals – including former NFL Network reporter Kimberly Jones and ESPN’s Heather Dinich, and numerous others.
Out of love for his profession, Ron freely shared his experience and advice, with many on the beat in and around Penn State over the years pointing to him as a source of inspiration and an example of how to be a professional journalist.
One of my favorite memories of my many times with Ron was a night we drove together to Sunbury to report as a powerhouse Shikellamy High School wrestling team, led by eventual Wisconsin NCAA champion Jeff Walter, defeated a good young BEA squad.
The atmosphere was electric – and loud – and Ron was in his glory, even though his alma mater lost that night.
Ron’s sense of humor helped us through the difficult moments in our newsroom, and his life-earned wisdom was a guiding light for people around him at all levels.
Would I be where I am today if I hadn’t encountered Ron Bracken all those years ago, if I hadn’t studied his work and approach, if he hadn’t become my friend?
It’s hard to imagine.
Ironically, Ron was picked for the PNA Hall of Fame in 2024, and I was nominated and selected for that same honor this year. I’ll certainly be thinking of him when I hear my name called next month in Hershey.
So long, Ron.
In every way, you were the best.
Chip Minemyer is the publisher of The Tribune-Democrat, of Johnstown, Pa.; The Daily Item, of Sunbury, Pa.; and The Times-News, of Cumberland, Md. He can be reached at 814-532-5111. Follow him on Twitter @MinemyerChip.
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Many people were echoing those sentiments this past week after learning that Ron had passed away at the age of 81.
An obituary story in the Centre Daily Times newspaper noted that Ron worked there “from 1967 to 2008 as a sports reporter, editor and columnist, leaving an enduring legacy after countless interviews, deadlines and bylines.”
Ron was inducted into seven halls of fame, the CDT story noted: Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, Centre County Sports, National Wrestling, Pennsylvania Wrestling, District 6 Wrestling, Bald Eagle Area Wrestling and District 6 Softball.
He won countless state and national writing awards, many of which were showcased in the 2003 book “Replays: A collection of veteran football writer Ron Bracken’s award-winning articles and personal favorites” – available on Amazon, AbeBooks and other platforms.
Longtime BEA wrestling coach Dick Rhoades told the CDT: “I’ll tell you what, he deserved all of his awards.”
As a CDT newsroom manager at the time, I worked with Ron on that book and learned much about the writing craft, what it means to have a deep commitment to local sports, and the work of organizing and leading a significant project.
“Replays” was my first book experience – paving the way for many more in the years since.
In his book acknowledgements, Ron credited me for my efforts, as I “proofread the copy, laid out the pages and provided a necessary morale boost when I began to have second thoughts.”
The stories in that book are superb, a must-have for fans of Penn State football history and anyone who appreciates the importance of local journalism in telling the narrative and preserving the legacies of communities and their heroes – in athletics and beyond.
“Replays” includes many sports stories whose messages transcended competition – profiling a former player who adopted an AIDS-stricken girl, celebrating the accomplishments of an area World War II hero, recounting the funeral of a fallen scoutmaster, and even spotlighting a walk-on football player whose father was serving a life prison sentence for his days as a Mafia hitman.
Bracken called the book “a collection of highlights from a career spent doing what I love to do as well as I could do it.”
Which was very good indeed.
I followed Ron’s path from rural Centre County and “The Hill” neighborhood above Port Matilda through the halls of Bald Eagle Area High School – where we were a generation apart.
I worked under him and learned from him, then worked alongside him, and eventually led the newsroom where he did such great work.
Right before I left State College to become the editor of The Tribune-Democrat, Ron wrote in my copy of “Replays”: “It still amazes me that two guys from Port (Matilda) and BEA pulled this off. We’re better than a lot of people may have thought we were.”
I don’t recall a time when anyone doubted Ron’s talent or determination.
I read his work before I even had a thought about doing the same myself, and gained much insight from his way with words and phrases, and from his devotion to the local scene and the people whose passion fueled the teams and towns he covered.
The book process included some of the numerous times we shared ideas and read each other’s copy, sat together at games or tournaments, or exchanged stories over coffee or a cold beverage.
Ron was a consummate storyteller – on and off the job, as many have said in social media posts in recent days. He could recall every detail of a season, a game, a conversation – and relive them with flair.
He was a mentor to many up-and-coming sports professionals – including former NFL Network reporter Kimberly Jones and ESPN’s Heather Dinich, and numerous others.
Out of love for his profession, Ron freely shared his experience and advice, with many on the beat in and around Penn State over the years pointing to him as a source of inspiration and an example of how to be a professional journalist.
One of my favorite memories of my many times with Ron was a night we drove together to Sunbury to report as a powerhouse Shikellamy High School wrestling team, led by eventual Wisconsin NCAA champion Jeff Walter, defeated a good young BEA squad.
The atmosphere was electric – and loud – and Ron was in his glory, even though his alma mater lost that night.
Ron’s sense of humor helped us through the difficult moments in our newsroom, and his life-earned wisdom was a guiding light for people around him at all levels.
Would I be where I am today if I hadn’t encountered Ron Bracken all those years ago, if I hadn’t studied his work and approach, if he hadn’t become my friend?
It’s hard to imagine.
Ironically, Ron was picked for the PNA Hall of Fame in 2024, and I was nominated and selected for that same honor this year. I’ll certainly be thinking of him when I hear my name called next month in Hershey.
So long, Ron.
In every way, you were the best.
Chip Minemyer is the publisher of The Tribune-Democrat, of Johnstown, Pa.; The Daily Item, of Sunbury, Pa.; and The Times-News, of Cumberland, Md. He can be reached at 814-532-5111. Follow him on Twitter @MinemyerChip.
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