Honoring American sportswriter, author, screenwriter, radio personality, and sports commentator Ray Didinger on the announcement of his retirement from NBC Sports Philadelphia and 94.1 WIP SportsRadio and congratulating him on an exciting and legendary career serving as a Philadelphia sports media icon for fifty-three years.

WHEREAS, Ray Didinger was born in Philadelphia and raised in Folsom, Pennsylvania and graduated from St. James High School in 1964, and went on to college at Temple University where he received a B.S. in Communications in 1968; and

WHEREAS, While enrolled at Temple University, Ray hosted a sports radio show on WRTI (90.1), a public FM radio station, and also served as the station’s Sports Director; and

WHEREAS, Ray Didinger began his sports writing career in 1969, covering the National Football League for

The Philadelphia Bulletin

and

The Philadelphia Daily News

and doing so for more than twenty-five years. During his career, Ray was named Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year five times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, Ray Didinger authored the first of his twelve books, entitled,

On God’s

Squad, followed by other books about pro football including

The Eagles Encyclopedia

in 2005 with Robert S. Lyons and

The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies

with his radio co-host Glen Macnow in 2009, and wrote his own memoir,

Finished Business: My Fifty Years of Headlines, Heroes, and Heartaches

, in 2021; and

WHEREAS, In 1995, Ray Didinger won the Dick McCann Memorial Award (now named the Bill Nunn Jr. Award) presented by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA), which added his name to the writer’s honor roll at the Pro Football Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Ray Didinger is also well-known for his work with NFL Films, which earned him six Emmy awards as a writer and senior producer; among his projects were the weekly series “NFL Films Presents;”

the film “Football America” for Turner Network Television; the one-hour ESPN special “Winning is Living and Losing is Dying: the George Allen Story,” which was selected as the top documentary of 2001 by

Sports Illustrated

; and

WHEREAS, Ray Didinger’s autobiographical play, “Tommy and Me,” has enjoyed six successful productions in the Philadelphia area; and

WHEREAS, Since the inception of the Eagles Pregame and Postgame Live shows on NBC Sports Philadelphia, Ray Didinger has provided entertaining insights to fans and football enthusiasts alike; and

WHERAS, Ray Didinger is retiring as a Sports Radio 94WIP host, where he is renowned for his calm, thoughtful, and wise personality among Philadelphia sports fans; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Hereby honors American sportswriter, author, screenwriter, playwright, radio personality, and sports commentator Ray Didinger on the announcement of his retirement from NBC Sports Philadelphia and 94.1 WIP SportsRadio and congratulating him on an exciting and legendary career serving as a Philadelphia sports media icon for fifty-three years.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Ray Didinger as a sincere expression of City Council’s appreciation, and commendation on this momentous occasion.

End