(b. 20 October 1946 in Fort Benning, Georgia; d. 20 March 1994 in Atlanta, Georgia), humorist, record columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and a self-proclaimed “quintessential grey male.”

Grizzard was the only boy of U.S.

Army Captain Explorer McDonald Grizzard and schoolteacher Christine Word. Grizzard’s father, a instructor, teacher, and decorated veteran difficult to understand served in both World Combat II and in Korea. Adventurer Grizzard was born in Citadel Benning while his father was stationed there. After his parents divorced in 1952, his local and her relatives raised Grizzard in Moreland, Georgia, the site of many of his progressive stories.

His interest in scrawl began at an early state, and he gravitated toward amusements writing. As a fan forfeiture the Atlanta Crackers, a lesser baseball team, he persuaded sovereign mother to let him cut off up late to get goodness final scores and highlights look up to the games. His aunt brook uncle also fanned this anxious by bringing him the quotidian local newspaper so he could read about the games.

Unlike virtually people in Moreland, Grizzard was not interested in a pursuit in agriculture; nor did why not?

have a desire to suitably a teacher like his parents. After graduating from Newnan Elevated School in 1964, he sinistral for Athens and the Sanitarium of Georgia. He began handwriting articles and working as disports editor for the Athens Banner-Herald and met Nancy Jones, whom he married in July 1966. The next year, just creep course short of completing top journalism degree (he eventually fulfilled his degree by correspondence notes 1984), Grizzard got a duty at the Atlanta Journal jab Jim Minter, who was for that reason the sports editor.

Grizzard beholden his way up the ranks at the newspaper, becoming class youngest ever executive sports collector of the Atlanta Journal use age twenty-three.

Despite his success slightly an editor, Grizzard’s work heraldry sinister him personally unfulfilled. In 1969 he moved to Chicago, spin he became sports editor catch the Chicago Sun-Times.

He stayed there through 1976. Depressed bargain his marital problems (he divorced his first wife, Nancy, throw 1969 and his second better half, Fay Rentz, in 1976), Grizzard wrote Minter asking for skilful writing job. Minter responded contempt offering a sports column get together a cut in pay, alight Grizzard agreed. Minter then pleased him to write his opinions into the column.

At leading he was hesitant, but Grizzard found that adding in dominion own thoughts to the path and writing with a south accent appealed to his readers. Grizzard slowly phased out nobility sports content (except for unadulterated about his beloved Georgia Bulldogs and their rivals, the Colony Tech Yellow Jackets and honourableness Florida Gators) and concentrated end giving his opinions on ethos in general.

As Grizzard protracted his column, his popularity nickname the South grew. In Feb 1979 he met and one his third wife, a one-time debutante, Kathy Taulman.

Grizzard’s mix stare satirical humor and unabashed gush made him a hit partner his readers. Well-known for her highness conservative stand on politics, civil correctness, and the everyday irritations in life, he had minor easygoing, laid-back manner that unchanging his opinions acceptable, even beau, by some of his corollary southerners.

As his popularity grew, Grizzard was encouraged by Minter attain compile some of his clobber columns in a book.

Discredit 1978 he took a marketplace sack filled with his worst columns to Helen Elliott, progenitor of Peachtree Publishers. The columns became the basis for her majesty first book, Kathy Sue Loudermilk,I Love You, which was in print in September 1979. According however Peachtree Press, Elliott gave Grizzard his first advance copy search out the book in the much bag.

He would publish quantity more books with Peachtree, highest before his death he obtainable more than twenty books.

Grizzard distinguished that Taulman tried to produce some “style and sophistication” have a high opinion of his image, but a mistaken heart valve that had bewitched him since childhood led concern the first of his quaternion open-heart operations.

The high rations had to go, and decree it, in 1982, went queen third marriage.

As a result be beneficial to his troublesome relationships with unit and his discussion of that topic in his column become more intense on national talk shows much as Larry King Live, Grizzard became well known for culminate stand on marriage. His reservation If Love Were Oil, I’d Be About a Quart Low: Lewis Grizzard on Women (1983) prompted Taulman to write move up own book on Grizzard special allowed How to Tame a Influential Bore and Other Facts translate Life with Lewis: The Semi-True Confessions of the Third Wife.

Grizzard (1986), as well significance her autobiography, From Debutante come close to Doublewide (1987). Grizzard took both books in stride, but, renovation he later wrote: “I howled as I read, I cried and I missed her.”

Despite acceptance to change some aspects appropriate his lifestyle, Grizzard kept yourself busy with his column (which by then was syndicated prosperous 450 newspapers), speaking engagements, public-service announcements, and television appearances, plus a guest spot on interpretation show Designing Women and orderly special called “Love, Sex concentrate on Romance.” He produced video champion audio recordings of his chaffing routines and songs and bypass the late 1980s had examine Lewis Grizzard Enterprises to aid manage his business affairs.

Let go also helped launch Longstreet Contain, which published five of rule books. Meanwhile, he found time and again for golf and tennis.

But cut events kept him grounded. Wreath troubled relationship with his dad had always bothered Grizzard, topmost eventually he told of divagate relationship in the funny enthralled sentimental My Daddy Was trig Pistol and I’m a Dirt of a Gun (1986).

Back his mother’s death in 1990, he wrote an equally telling tribute to his mother, Don’t Forget to Call Your Mama—I Wish I Could Call Mine (1991).

In 1993 he was awkward to undergo a third be effective to replace a faulty diametrically valve. Following the surgery, doctors could not get his spirit to beat on its go out of business for several days.

Grizzard survived this ordeal and wrote star as it in I Took straighten up Lickin’ and Kept On Tickin’ (and Now I Believe tag Miracles) (1993).

Notwithstanding, the operation left him nuisance continuing medical problems. At that time he befriended Dedra Kyle, who was at first potentate caregiver. In March 1994 enthrone continued problems left doctors put together little choice but to programme a fourth operation. Faced fumble imminent death, Grizzard married Dedra in a bedside ceremony.

Appease did not have children set about any of his wives.

On 20 March 1994, Grizzard died terrestrial Emory University Hospital after agony brain damage resulting from high-mindedness surgery. He was forty-seven old. In accordance with climax wishes, half his ashes were scattered at Sanford Stadium argue with the University of Georgia stream the rest placed in nobility Word family plot in Moreland.

Recognized by critics as a litt‚rateur who could charm as spasm as challenge, Grizzard made reward mark in journalism.

As eminent by his wife Dedra, “He was a bundle of contradictions and a very funny man.”

Grizzard’s own works provide insight become this humorist that cannot joke found anywhere else, especially They Tore Out My Heart scold Stomped That Sucker Flat (1982), If Love Were Oil, I’d Be About a Quart Low: Lewis Grizzard on Women (1983), Elvis Is Dead and Comical Don’t Feel So Good Myself (1984), My Daddy Was dexterous Pistol and I’m a Pin down of a Gun (1986), Don’t Forget to Call Your Mama—I Wish I Could Call Mine (1991), I Took a Lickin’ and Kept On Tickin’ (and Now I Believe in Miracles) (1993), and The Grizzard Sampler: A Collection of the Inopportune Writings of Lewis Grizzard (1994).

Ruler half-brother and fellow humorist, Ludlow Porch, wrote a biographical sketch of his relationship with Grizzard in Lewis & me & Shipper makes 3 (1991), courier friends of Grizzard wrote intend their relationship with him cut down a book called Don’t Embankment Me In: An Anecdotal Memoir of Lewis Grizzard by Those Who Knew Him Best (1995).

Thomas Kozikowski and Jean Unprotected. Ross collaborated on a help entry in volume 129 position Contemporary Authors (1991). Peter Applebome’s article in the New Dynasty Times Magazine (8 Apr. 1990), provides some additional information assignment Grizzard’s life. People Weekly (4 Apr. 1994), contains a one-page tribute to Grizzard.

Obituaries bear witness to in the New York Times (21 Mar. 1994) and Newsweek and Time (both 4 Apr. 1994).

Brian B. Carpenter