Northern Ireland sports journalism has lost one of its acknowledged master craftsmen with the death, after a short illness, of Jack Magowan, distinguished former Belfast Telegraph boxing and golf correspondent. He was 79.
Malcolm Brodie, former Sports Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, writes:
Tributes, fulsome and admiring, have poured in from sporting officials and personalities throughout the UK and correspondents covering the US Masters at Augusta National, Georgia. They all revealed not only the deep affection in which he was held but recognised his professional expertise, his passion and conviction for sport
Jack Magowan was the ultimate all-round journalist with a capacity to write entertainingly in a Damon Runyonesque lets-publish-and-be damned style, and he also possessed the technological ability to design and edit award winning pages.
He was unquestionably the most accomplished Irish boxing writer of his generation — acerbic, fearless yet fair in his criticism, be they amateur or professional, competitor or official.
He began his newspaper career as a copy boy on the now defunct Northern Whig, nursery for so many who reached the heights in all branches of the local, national and international media. He joined the Belfast Telegraph in November 1950 to become an integral part of an accomplished team that developed a comprehensive world-wide coverage after the sporting stagnation of the Second World War years. As the sports editor I found Jack was an ideal man to have in your corner until his retirement in September 1991, although he continued to produce outstanding columns. “Retirement is not on my radar screen,” he said.
His knowledge of boxing was unsurpassed, his research and archival facilities the envy of competitors. A member of the British Boxing Writers Association he had a special friendship with Reg Gutteridge, ITV commentator and for years the London Evening News boxing writer, and Harry Carpenter of the BBC, both of whom accepted his ability to “read” fights.
One of his sports writing heroes was the American Paul Gallico, a supreme wordsmith, and he repeatedly quoted his comment: “You talk of the golden age I was writing about. It is a golden age now. Cassius Clay is every bit as colourful as Dempsey; Lee Trevino could upstage Walter Hagen. It is one of the tragedies that the golden age we so rarely recognise is the one that we’re actually living through.”
Golf, his other addiction, held him in total esteem — so much so he was made an honorary member of many Northern Ireland clubs. He covered more than 30 Open championships, Ryder Cups, United States and European tournaments and, unlike others, he walked round the course to get “the feel”, as he called it, instead of sitting in the media centre collecting data and the interviews.
He was a founder member of the Belfast Press Golf Society of which there are now only two original survivors — Denis O’Hara and Bill Clark — and was a member of the Irish Golf Writers Association.
Behind his straight-from-the-hip approach there was a genuine warmth and friendliness, never a mercenary streak, a feeling for his fellow humans and a generosity in helping causes or those who might have hit hard times.
His life revolved around his family and his devotion to them was remarkable. Every morning for years he would rise at dawn and take his son Simon, a graduate of Edinburgh University, to Campbell College pool as he trained for the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.
Sincere sympathy is extended from all in Northern Ireland sport to his wife Betty, Simon and daughter Jane. We have all lost a wonderful colleague and sport a true friend.
Northern Ireland Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke has paid tribute to former Belfast Telegraph golf correspondent Jack Magowan.
Clarke was speaking at the launch of the Magners North of Ireland amateur championship at Royal Portrush, an event Jack covered for the Telegraph for many, many years.
“I was deeply saddened to hear of Jack’s passing,” he said.“He was a very good man who knew the game inside out and knew what he was writing about. Everyone connected to the game here will be sad to hear this news.”
Ivor McCandless, chairman of the Ulster Branch of the GUI, said: “Jack was a great friend to the game of golf and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.”
