Hemmelgarn, long-time sports editor and author, died | News, Sports, Jobs

Steve Hemmelgarn, longtime sports editor and writer for The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, works at this desk. Hemmelgarn died on Saturday. He was 75 years old. (File photo)

PARKERSBURG – A longtime sportswriter and editor of the Parkersburg News and Sentinel who served as manager of the Ohio State football team during his college days died Saturday.

Steve Hemmelgarn, 75, retired in 2018 after 46 years at The News and Sentinel. He joined the paper in 1972 after working for 18 months at The Marietta Times.

Hemmelgarn graduated from Ohio State University in 1970. He was the football manager from 1968 to 1970 and was one of only two senior managers when Woody Hayes was head coach. Hemmelgarn also worked with Lou Holtz, who later became head coach at Notre Dame, when he was defensive line coach at Ohio State.

Football was Hemmelgarn's favorite sport. In a 2018 interview, Hemmelgarn said that in the 46 years he covered local sports, players had gotten bigger, stronger and faster.

“He really loved the game,” said Dan Reeves, who coached the Parkersburg High School football team from 2008 to 2013.

Steve Hemmelgarn, longtime sports editor and writer for The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, died Saturday. From left: Jeff Baughan, former photographer and reporter for The News and Sentinel, at Hemmelgarn's retirement party. (File photo)

From conversations with Hemmelgarn, he could see that he was knowledgeable about football and all other sports, Reeves said.

“I thought he was a good sports journalist,” said Reeves.

Hemmelgarn always tried to get into the details of the game and look for things that would connect with readers, said Buddy James, who coached the Big Reds for more than 20 years from 1968 to 1990.

“I liked Steve very much,” Said James. “He was a good sports journalist.”

Hemmelgarn was always fair in his articles to both the winners and the losers, said James.

“And they were always good and interesting,” he said.

Another contemporary of Hemmelgarn was Jim Wharton, the longtime sports reporter at television station WTAP. Hemmelgarn helped out with scores and statistics, said Wharton, who is retired.

“We were competitors, but he also helped me when I needed help,” said Wharton. “He was always helpful.”

Wharton said his favorite opening to a story written by Hemmelgarn was “It was a pretty violent fight.”

“Simply a joy to read,” he said.

Hemmelgarn's wife Virginia Ann died before him “Jenny” Hemmelgarn in 2013. Viewings will be Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, Pike Street in South Parkersburg, where burial will be at 1 p.m.