Bob Becker

Bob Becker
Journalist - Grand Rapids Press (1978 – 2007)

Bob Becker a native of Aurora, Illinois, started his sports writing career in Colorado before coming to Michigan to be the Sports Editor at the Muskegon Chronicle for a year, then on to the Jackson Citizen Patriot, before settling in at the Grand Rapids Press for the next 29 years. During his tenure with the Press, Becker brought a greater level of commitment to local sports, especially the coverage of women’s sports, in addition to the hiring of numerous female sports writers. Becker reasoned, that at the time more women were beginning to participate in sports and would therefore want to read about it. This concept, which is now a part of the natural landscape, was groundbreaking in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Becker was also instrumental in bringing professional sports as well as various NCAA tournaments to Grand Rapids. Bob Becker was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and elected in 2008 but inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.