Jerry Nason

Jerry Nason, an inductee Honor Administrator of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2007

Paul E. “Jerry” Nason, 1974 recipient of the Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award, given by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. , photo courtesy of the Boston Globe

Paul E. “Jerry” Nason (died at the age of 77 in 1986) was an American runner and sports writer from Winchester, Massachusetts. Inducted as an Honor Adminstrator of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2007.

Writing Career

• Nason was an internationally known track and field writer who served as Boston Globe sports editor for 33 years before retiring in 1974.
• Nason was nicknamed 'The Expert' for his knowledge of the Boston Marathon, continued to cover the race for the newspaper long after his retirement, including last year's 90th running.
• In 1973, Nason became the first non-runner elected to the Road Runners Hall of Fame, a moment in his life he cherished most.
• Nason wrote a popular booklet describing the history of the 90-year-old event.
• Nason began working at the Globe as a copy boy before becoming a cartoonist. He was elevated to schoolboy sports editor, college editor and then sports editor and columnist in 1942.
• Nason's assignments included five Olympic Games, the 1941 Sugar Bowl, numerous baseball World Series, world championship fights, Harvard football games and track meets.
• Nason's articles were selected to E.P. Dutton's annual list of top 20 sports stories 15 times.
• Nason's 1945 report on the Notre Dame-Army football game earned him the Best Sports Story award that year.
• Nason won the George C. Carens Award for contribution to football, the Murray Kramer Scarlet Quill Award for his coverage of intercollegiate sports, and the Sportswriter of the Year award from the Boston Press Club.
• Nason belonged to the Baseball Writers Association of America, Football Writers Association of America, Heisman Trophy Award Committee, Football Hall of Fame Committee, Helms Foundation and the Boston Newspapermen's Golf Association.
• Nason served as New England chairman of the Football Hall of Fame Scholarship Committee.

Open Water Swimming Writing Career

• Nason wrote frequently about the Boston Light Swim
• Nason was the 1974 recipient of the Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award, given by the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
• Nason loved sports, especially those involving endurance and did much to support marathon swimming in New England.
• Nason promoted the efforts of Jim Doty, Ralph Willard and the New England Marathon Swimming Association. His writings told the story of the technical aspects of the marathon swimming and the inner drive needed by the swimmer to complete their attempts.
• Nason's reports on the annual Boston Light Swim to the L Street Bathhouse and other marathon swims gave the impression of being on the swimmer’ escort craft and observing the swim stroke-by-stroke.
• He received the 1974 Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame that recognized his contributions in making major contributions to marathon swimming.

External links

• Colin Hill Honored By The International Swimming Hall of Fame
• Paul E. Jerry Nason
• Honoring The Legacies Of Irving Davids, Roger Wheeler
• International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
• Marathon Swimming
• Open Water Swimming
• Daily News of Open Water Swimming
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Who Are They And Where Did They Come From?
• Dennis Miller Receives Davids-Wheeler Memorial Award
• Bringing The Masses To The Open Water