Posted on 03/11/2008 12:20:12 PM PDT by abb
Noted outdoors writer and television personality Claude H. “Grits” Gresham Jr., who passed away at age 85 Monday after a lengthy illness, will be remembered as one of the best outdoors communicators ever.
Gresham hosted The American Sportsman on ABC and Shooting Sports America on ESPN, was shooting editor of Sports Afield magazine for 26 years. He wrote eight books but might be most widely known for his role in a series of commercials for Miller Lite beer.
In 2006, he received the only Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which then established, with the Professional Outdoor Media Association, an ongoing Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator award. Among other awards he won are the Winchester Outdoorsman of the Year, Alumnus of the Year in the LSU School of Forestry and Wildlife Management, and he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the LSU Hall of Distinction. One thing many people might be surprised to learn about Gresham is that, before he began his career in outdoor journalism, he signed a baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.
According to an obituary in The Chattanoogan, President Reagan shared with Gresham a story no one in the national media had heard: When Reagan was a broadcaster in Des Moines, Iowa, he had used a pistol to save a nurse from a mugging. After the story broke, the nurse came forward and confirmed the tale, although she didn’t know until then that the young man who had saved her years before had turned out to be the actor and president.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, La. Visitation is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. Thursday.
I always liked Grits. I remember reading his articles when I was a boy.
RIP.
It seems all the good ones have passed on to the happy hunting grounds.
Y’all need to see this one. Sorry I didn’t put it up when it happened. I missed the story and I apologize.
I loved reading Grits.
Wonderful writers, all. I’d include patrick mcManus, although he’s still alive and kickin’, in your list of great Outdoors writers.
Tom Steenstra’s pretty good, at times, albeit typically Bay Are PC’ish.
Ed
Thanks for posting this. I heard about his passing through his son Tom Gresham, a fine man and outdoors/gun/aviation proponent in his own right.
God bless you, Grits! You will be sorely missed!
If you’re in contact with Grits’ son Tom, please pass on condolences from all of us. Grits will be missed. That’s for sure.
Boy, do I recall those Sundays when American Sportsman was a must see in my household. Not only was it a great wildlife series, but great entertainment as well. I used to love it when Phil Harris was a guest. What laughs. What fun.
Yes the greats of days of old are passing on .But the place they are going to will be something to behold.
Dang, some of us are getting old.....LOL....
Respectful bttt.
I used to be a huge fan of his articles. His prose literally transported the American outdoors into my room even before I set foot in this country.
Thanks, I just sent him the first part of the thread and am sending him the link as well.
Thanks for your kindness!
Or Andy Devine shooting that .410 at woodcock.
Robert Ruark. I should think.
Do you know if any of American Sportsman has made it to DVD? That would be a great series to have.
Can’t find anything.
“Dang, some of us are getting old.....LOL....”
Which, generally speaking, beats the alternative, doesn’t it? ;)
U betchum Red Ryder!
U betchum Red Ryder!”
That triggers a trivia question:
Who played Little Beaver on the Red Ryder TV show?
I know who did—but I can never remember who played Red Ryder himself.
Answers, please.....
Little beaver was played by Dawn Wells, wait that other little beaver. He was the same guy who played Baretta and also Perry in the movie “In Cold Blood”.
RIP.
Robert Blake. I'm watching electra glide in blue as I type this.
Robert Blake. I'm watching electra glide in blue as I type this.
I sure do hope that's you, little John....
George Nonte, Townsend Whelen, and Julian Hatcher come immediately to mind, as does the late Tom Mchaill of Mechanics' Illustrated, who though primarily an automotive journalist was also an avid sportsman who frequently let that interest bleed into his car-test pieces. lse.
Agree on all of them, especially Tom McCahill. He was the only reason I subscribed to Mechanics Illustrated. After he died there was no more reason to read the magazine.
You’re welcome!
(I’ve known Tom for a long time - I know that the respect shown to his father on this thread would warm his heart.)
Yes, he does. It's a really interesting show. He also did one of the first shows shot in HD for the Outdoor Channel, Wings to Adventure. Great stuff!
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