North Texas Hall of Fame Sports Information Director Fred Graham Dies
Fred Graham, North Texas’ first sports information director, died Tuesday morning following a lengthy illness. He was 74.
Graham is the only sports information director to be named to the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame and one of the pioneers of the industry. He became the school’s fi rst sports information director in 1959 and assumed that position until 1981 when he retired.
“The University of North Texas owes a debt of gratitude to Fred Graham for his service and dedication to Mean Green athletics,” Director of Athletics Rick Villarreal said. “He was a proud alum who spoke highly of the University whether reporting on North Texas athletics or sharing his stories about the Mean Green at numerous events throughout the Metroplex. We would also like to thank his wife Sidney who strongly supported Fred throughout his career and continues his legacy.”
Graham was very well respected among his peers and among members of the local and national media. He was instrumental in creating much of the early excitement for North Texas athletics through his effort in publicizing some of the most successful teams in school history. His wife Sidney is credited with originating the nickname Mean Green after using it spontaneously in 1967 in reference to the defensive unit of the football team that was led by All-American “Mean” Joe Greene.
“Some of the best years ever for me in the newspaper business were the late 60s and early 70s, covering the North Texas State Eagles, also known as the Mean Green,” longtime newspaper columnist Randy Galloway said. “A large part of that enjoyment involved a working relationship and friendship that evolved with Fred. Only the memories remain, but those memories are forever good, thanks to Fred.”
Graham also initiated and produced the fi rst weekly television program highlighting North Texas athletics. His infl uence in that project has extended more than 40 years and can still be measured today in the “Mean Green Insider” which is currently produced each week by the athletics department. He has always been recognized as the leading historian of North Texas athletics and served on the Athletics Hall of Fame committee for several years after his retirement.
“Fred will always be considered the preeminent sports information director in North Texas history,” Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations Eric Capper said. “He was a tremendous resource to this offi ce and the foundation of excellence that he established
for the profession is not lost on any of us that have followed in his footsteps. Young people in this business could learn a lot from his passionate approach to the job. He was the consummate professional and he will always be held in high regard.”
In the early years of sports information, Graham established the benchmark of professionalism that was emulated by many in the business. His abilities were recognized by media professionals outside the university setting while he worked in various capacities throughout the region. He had more than 20 years of service with the Dallas Cowboys, assisting with their media efforts. He was also a longtime press aid with the Cotton Bowl Classic as well as the Byron Nelson and Colonial golf tournaments. He also served as the General Manager of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame for 13 years.
The list of student-athletes that Graham worked with and helped promote their career is like reading a literal “Who’s Who” of Mean Green sports history. Joe Greene, Abner Haynes, Cedric Hardman, Steve Ramsey and Ron Shanklin are just a few North Texas Hall of Famers that earned national recognition thanks in large part to the effort of Graham.
His meticulous record keeping and innate knowledge of sports was recognized when he was chosen by the NCAA as one of just 23 sports information directors to lead the effort in the first computerized reporting of statistics. The information that he provided in early North Texas media guides was considered revolutionary for the time and set the standard for many sports information departments throughout the nation.
Graham was a 1957 graduate of North Texas and was inducted to the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996. He is still the only sports information director and one of very few non-athletes or coaches to be included in that prestigious fraternity. During the induction ceremony Graham was quoted as saying “Everything that I have done in my professional career has been in an effort to bring positive publicity to this school that I dearly love.”