Former Knoxville Journal sports editor Ben Byrd dies at 91

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Ben Byrd, a former Knoxville sportswriter and editor who was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, has died. He was 91.

Jeff Berry, a manager at the Berry Funeral Home, confirmed Tuesday that Byrd died Monday at the Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans' Home in Knoxville.

Byrd worked at the Knoxville Journal from 1947 until its closing in 1991 as a sports reporter and sports editor. He was named Tennessee sportswriter of the year five times.

He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

Byrd was the father of Belmont men's basketball coach Rick Byrd.