Frank Deford, longtime Sports Illustrated scribe, dies at 78

Frank Deford, the venerable Sports Illustrated scribe who authored one of the most impressive resumes ever by a sportswriter, died Sunday at age 78, his wife confirmed to the Washington Post.

Over his illustrious career, Deford, who started writing for SI in 1962, penned more than a dozen books, served as the editor of the National Sports Daily, and was voted by his peers as U.S. Sportswriter of the Year six times. For the last 32 years, Deford worked with NPR's "Morning Edition" before retiring earlier this month.

Deford, a Baltimore native, was awarded the National Humanities Medal by then-President Barack Obama in 2013.

"A dedicated writer and storyteller, Mr. Deford has offered a consistent, compelling voice in print and on radio, reaching beyond scores and statistics to reveal the humanity woven into the games we love," Obama said in his medal citation.