Hall of Fame sportswriter talks with Marshall University Journalism Students about the journey of his career

by Ben Anderson

A Marshall Journalism Hall of Famer and former sportswriter for Kentucky basketball recently said that journalism was not his original idea for a profession.  

“In high school, a math teacher made an impression on me, and I wanted to be a math teacher.” said Jerry Tipton, who covered Kentucky basketball for the Lexington-Herald, told students in a sports journalism class at Marshall University in late August. 

Tipton, once at college, decided to pursue journalism because of the support of his uncle. “My uncle was a Marshall Alumni and suggested to me to become a sportswriter.” Tipton said. 

Like many journalists, Tipton started his career in college at Marshall Student newspaper, The Parthenon, which led to him getting his first job at the Herald-Dispatch. “In my junior year, Ralph Turner went to me and told me that the Herald-Dispatch was looking for students’ sports writers for Friday night high school football to answer the phones.” Tipton said. 

Tipton learned, just like many other journalists early in their careers, about the importance of deadlines. “On my very first story, I pulled the paper, and the layout person was walking by, and when I handed him the paper, he threw the paper away and kept on walking because it was past the deadline for the two schools.” Tipton said. 

Tipton, during his time at Kentucky, was called upon by an up-and-coming men’s basketball coach about an opportunity at his alma mater. “Billy Donovan was a coach at Kentucky, and he was interested in the Marshall job, and he asked me about Marshall, and I told him that the fans are into it and care, and if you are successful, they will build a statue of you.” Tipton said. 

Tipton, in 1981, would receive the opportunity of a lifetime and leave the Herald-Dispatch after interviewing for multiple jobs. “Early in the summer of 1981, the Akron Beacon Journal called and wanted to interview him to report for the Cleveland browns. He did not want the job but interviewed because he never interviewed for a job. If he was offered the job, he would have not taken the job.” said Tipton. “Not much more than a week later, he was offered the job at the Lexington Herald,” Tipton said.  

Tipton, during his time in Kentucky, learned how to handle controversies. “Billy Gillespie had a reputation for being nasty, and he kicked a walk-on off the team because the player was laughing when trying to keep a teammate from leaving the bench during a scuffle.” Tipton said. 

One of the golden rules for sports journalists is to not root while reporting, Tipton said that he as a sportswriter did not root for winners but rooted for quality of stories. “I rooted for a good story to come to mind and rooted for a way to execute it properly.” Tipton said. 

Tipton’s career would end in 2022 with Kentucky Basketball falling to the St. Peters Peacocks. Tipton said that retirement was a thing he tried to avoid but realized that it was time to call it a career. “I was in denial of aging, but in 2021, I turned 70, and I felt like that sobered me up and made me think; I did not like the thought of being at the keyboard and collapsing into it.” Tipton said.