Legendary sports journalist Billy Reed dies at age 79

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Billy Reed, a legendary sports journalist from Kentucky, died Saturday morning at the age of 79, his family confirmed.

Reed’s work for WAVE News, the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Courier-Journal, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and other publications reached readers across the Commonwealth and the country.

He had been fighting liver disease and had been hospitalized several times after a fall at his alma mater, Transylvania University, last summer, according to the NKyTribune, where he was a regular sports columnist.

Reed was inducted into the U.S. Basketball Writers Hall of Fame, the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Transylvania University Hall of Fame as a highly regarded journalist. He also received the Eclipse Award three times and was voted Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year eight times.

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell released the following statement on Saturday on Reed’s passing:

”I was saddened to learn of the passing of legendary sportswriter Billy Reed, a man who delivered some of the best sports coverage in the Commonwealth,” McConnell said. “I knew Billy well since our time playing little league baseball together and always enjoyed reading his takes on Kentucky’s sports teams. From covering more than fifty Derbys, to shadowing Muhammad Ali, to attending NCAA championships, he enjoyed every opportunity Kentucky athletics had to offer. He had an outstanding career and Kentucky sports fans will miss him dearly.”