Sportscaster, Author. He will be remembered for his record 62 times of covering the Masters Golf Tournament. He initiated his association with the sport, when he landed a job as a reporter for the Gaston Gazette at the age of seventeen. He was covering a Duke-Georgia Tech football contest, when he met O.B. Keeler, an acclaimed golf writer. Derr attended the 1935 Masters at Augusta and while there, Keeler introduced him to such golfing greats as Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen. During World War II, Derr served as a sports writer under General Joseph W. Stilwell for the military publication, CBI Roundup, while stationed in India. He was sent back to the United States for a special assignment to cover the 1944 World Series for the troops. During this period, Derr became acquainted with Mahatma Gandhi. His war experience earned him a Bronze Star and following his return home, he launched a lengthy career with CBS Radio and later CBS Television. He was there to report legend Ben Hogan's first PGA Tour victory in 1940 and covered his only win of the British Open in 1953. Derr was part of the team which covered the first telecast of the Masters Tournament in 1956 and remained at that capacity until 1982. Derr authored several books among them "My Place at the Table" (2010), which recounted seven-decade career and the many historical figures he encountered including Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein and Dwight Eisenhower.
Sportscaster, Author. He will be remembered for his record 62 times of covering the Masters Golf Tournament. He initiated his association with the sport, when he landed a job as a reporter for the Gaston Gazette at the age of seventeen. He was covering a Duke-Georgia Tech football contest, when he met O.B. Keeler, an acclaimed golf writer. Derr attended the 1935 Masters at Augusta and while there, Keeler introduced him to such golfing greats as Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen. During World War II, Derr served as a sports writer under General Joseph W. Stilwell for the military publication, CBI Roundup, while stationed in India. He was sent back to the United States for a special assignment to cover the 1944 World Series for the troops. During this period, Derr became acquainted with Mahatma Gandhi. His war experience earned him a Bronze Star and following his return home, he launched a lengthy career with CBS Radio and later CBS Television. He was there to report legend Ben Hogan's first PGA Tour victory in 1940 and covered his only win of the British Open in 1953. Derr was part of the team which covered the first telecast of the Masters Tournament in 1956 and remained at that capacity until 1982. Derr authored several books among them "My Place at the Table" (2010), which recounted seven-decade career and the many historical figures he encountered including Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein and Dwight Eisenhower.
Bio by: C.S.
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