Career chronology
1918 Born in Denton, N.C.
1938 Received A.B. degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
1938-39 Editor of weekly Lumberton (N.C.) Voice
1939-40 Reporter for High Point (N.C.) Enterprise
1940-43 Reporter, religion editor, state editor, sports makeup editor for Charlotte News
1943-46 U.S. Navy officer, served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, rising to rank of lieutenant junior grade
1946-48 Sportswriter, Charlotte News
1948-50 Sports editor, Charlotte News
1950-57 Sports editor, Atlanta Constitution
1957-66 Sports editor, Atlanta Journal
1950-68 Moderator of the weekly Atlanta TV show, "Football Review"
1959-60 President of Football Writers Association of America
1961 Chairman of the Atlanta Easter Seal campaign
1961 Named by Time magazine one of the nation's five best columnists
1962 "With a Southern Exposure," the first book-length collection of his columns, is published by Thomas Nelson & Sons, with a foreword by Bing Crosby
1961-65 Charter member of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Authority
1979 Received Jake Ward Award from College Sports Information Directors of America for service to college football
1982 With merger of Journal and Constitution newsrooms, his columns began appearing in both newspapers, at his request
1988 Received Red Smith Award, annually presented by the AP Sports Editors for major contributions to sports journalism
1989 Inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame; "The Furman Bisher Collection," a compilation of his columns, is distributed by Taylor Publishing Co. of Dallas as part of its book series, "The Sportswriter's Eye"
1990 In his 40th year, he reported on deadline from Tokyo the International Olympic Committee's vote awarding the 1996 Olympics to Atlanta
1998 Marked his 50th year as a lead sports columnist, dating to his Charlotte News days
2009 Retired from writing full-time as the AJC after 59 years
About the Author
