Howard L. Handy, 84

Roger Carlson

IRVINE - Howard L. Handy, a retired sportswriter who was one of the

most respected in the profession around the Southland in the ‘40s, ‘50s,

‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, died Wednesday morning at his home, where he had

resided with wife Lois since retiring from the Daily Pilot in 1982.

He was 84. Along with his wife of nearly 61 years, he leaves four

sons, Howard J. of Washington state, Burt, a retired policeman in

Ventura, Carl, a policeman in Ventura, and Daniel, of Long Beach, as well

as five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

His son, Burt, said he died of “natural causes” and that it was most

likely a heart attack.

A gathering of friends is scheduled for Feb. 9 at The Meadows Trailer

Park in Irvine at 14851 Jeffrey Rd., starting at 2 p.m.

A native of Montana and a product of the University of California, he

was a sportswriter for the old Compton Herald during the glory days of

Compton College’s football team when Tay Brown and the Tartars rode

roughshod over most all on the junior college level. One of his proteges

was a student named Pete Rozelle.

After a stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ publicity department, he

came to the Daily Pilot in 1969 and was the Pilot’s golf and auto sports

writer, along with myriad duties, including the JC beat, which was

composed of Orange Coast College, Golden West College and Saddleback

College.

Like all good sportswriters, he always kept a composed demeanor, but

his heart always belonged to Golden West College, where several former

Compton College coaches were in command with the Rustlers.

Among them, Fred Owens, Ray Shackleford, Fred Hoover, Tom Hermstad and

Don Rowe.

As a golf writer his favorite was Nancy Lopez on the LPGA tour. As for

the Dodgers, Compton product Duke Snider was king.

His writing career began in the Pacific Theater of World War II,

centered around Tarawa, where he was an editor for a couple of service

newspapers as a radioman first class in the Navy.

Later he would serve with Compton College’s newspaper, then the

Compton Herald before moving on to the Dodgers, the Daily Pilot and

eventually retirement.

Over the long haul he covered virtually all sports, from the Super

Bowl, the World Series, the 1984 Olympic Games, to lawn bowling, boxing

and softball.

There were many other sidelights.

He was in charge of the Rams’ official game statistics during their

entire stay in Anaheim, was the media coordinator at the Long Beach Grand

Prix for 25 years, and was a football official.

On one celebrated night, at Westminster High in 1969 when he was staffing the football game between Marina and South Torrance as a Pilot

sportswriter, school officials lured him out of the pressbox and onto the

field to act as an official when game officials did not arrive. He and a

teacher from Marina High acted as the game’s two officials. And the game

went on.

He did his officiating, then sped back to the Daily Pilot to write his

game story of South Torrance’s 20-6 victory.

Howard L. Handy, a man for all seasons.