Saturday 15 October 2011

30 - Earl McRae

earl-mcraeEarl McRae, a veteran Ottawa Sun news and sports columnist, collapsed and died tonight while at work.

McRae, an award-winning Ottawa Sun columnist for 20 years, was working on a Sunday Sun news column when he died from an apparent heart attack.

The father of five was 69. 

Nominated eight times for the National Magazine sports journalism award, he won one gold and two silvers. He also won 10 Dunlop Awards, three Ontario Newspaper Awards and was nominated for a National Newspaper Award.

His online bio says his road from Algonquin College to the Ottawa Sun included stops at the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder, Peterborough Examiner, Toronto Star, The Canadian Magazine and the Ottawa Citizen.

The prolific sports writer, author of two books,  also hosted his own radio and TV shows in Toronto and Ottawa and wrote three sports documentaries.

In 2010, he was inducted into the Algonquin's Media and Design Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement.

When not writing sports, he was taking notes on Elvis Presley sighting as founder of the non-profit Elvis Sighting Society in Ottawa, says the online bio.

Earl's love for Ottawa was evident, raising  more than $500,000 for local charities.

Dave McRae, one of his sons, is an award-winning actor,  filmmaker and radio, TV and movie voice actor.

No doubt more stories to come about Earl McRae, the sports legend.

Memories of  Earl can be shared on TSF via email.

His final column can be read here.

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