Around The Commonwealth
The Virginia media legend,
who died at age 77, made
a gigantic impact on golf
and the VSGA
Millsaps received the 2017
Earle Hellen Sports Media
Award, which recognizes
outstanding golf journalists who
have promoted the game.
As word spread on
Easter weekend that
William H. Millsaps
had passed away,
the tributes from
his media colleagues
poured in unabated,
showing that he was
equal measure of mentor and friend to many
in Commonwealth newspaper circles.
“Nothing is more important in life than
a good reputation,” said Steve Isaacs, a past
Virginia State Golf Association champion
and board member who nominated Millsaps
to serve on the VSGA board in 2006. “And
that is proven by what others say and write
about you.”
Millsaps—or simply “Saps” to anyone
who knew him—died peacefully in his
home on April 10 after battles with multiple
strokes and cancer, surrounded by
family. Millsaps served for 12 years on
the VSGA’s board of directors and was
an instrumental guiding voice to the
VSGA as the chair of the Virginia Golfer
editorial committee.
That after his retirement, he would spend
his time helping to guide the VSGA’s communications
efforts spoke to two truths about
Millsaps—his love of journalism and the fact
that “the trait of service was a part of his
DNA,” Isaacs said.
Millsaps’ career was extensive. He covered
dozens upon dozens of major golf championships.
He served as both the sports editor and
executive editor at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
In 2011, he was honored with the Red
Smith Award, the highest national sports
writing honor as bestowed by the Associated
Press Sports Editors. That award put him in
the same company as Jim Murray, Shirley
Povich, Dave Kindred, Frank Deford and Dan
Jenkins—all colleagues and friends whom he
deeply admired.
What made Millsaps such a standout in his
industry? Honesty and empathy.
vsga.org M AY/J UNE 2020 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 5