Al McGuire called him “Gym Shoes,” and there was no mystery as to why; comfortable sneaks have always been Bill Jauss’ footwear of choice for any occasion, even a Marquette Tip-Off Club banquet at which he was one of the honorees.
He strolled to the podium to claim his award that night in a nicely cut, if slightly rumpled suit and sharp white “kicks”–how could you not like a guy so unpretentious? How could anyone who ever has met Bill Jauss not like him?
Bill and I go back 30 years, and he probably doesn’t want to hear this, but he was an inspiration. He was around Marquette and McGuire quite a bit when I was a student-journalist there, and he was proof positive that you could not only make a living covering sports, you could have great fun doing it. That enthusiasm remains with him today, and it’s infectious.
After 50-plus years as a chronicler/conscience of Chicago sports, Bill Jauss is calling it quits at the end of the year. No one could detail so colorful, varied and productive a career like the man himself, so we have asked him to, on Friday’s back page. Read it, and treasure it–it is vintage Bill Jauss.
More Top Picks Best Stand Magnifiers For Low Vision
He departs with our best wishes. We’re losing him as a colleague, but he will remain our friend–and our inspiration.