Bob Becker was an award-winning sports editor for the Grand Rapids Press for 29 years, retiring in 2007, and will perhaps best be remembered as a pioneer in the coverage of women's sports.
He convinced the Press and other businesses to sponsor special events and trained the spotlight on female athletes before Title IX legislation was being enforced.
Becker’s columns and the popular “Beat Becker” game-guessing promotion gave him a voice in community affairs, and he advocated the bringing of professional sports events and various NCAA tournaments to Grand Rapids.
The Aurora, Ill., native, who prior to Grand Rapids worked in Colorado, Muskegon and Jackson, was proud of diversifying the sports department he headed by hiring more than 30 minority writers and editors.
He was a U.S Air Force staff sergeant and served from 1066-70 where he was a standout pitcher on military teams and started his career in journalism by writing sports for military publications.
After he retired from the Grand Rapids Press he taught briefly at Cornerstone University, ran for the 73rd District State House of Representatives seat, served as a commander for the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard at military funerals and was involved with the Walter Durkee American Legion Post No. 311. He was named the Veteran of the Year by the United Veterans Council of Kent County in 2013.
Becker is also a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.