Dan Jenkins

Dan Jenkins – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about Dan Jenkins (1928–2019), the celebrated American sportswriter and novelist whose sharp wit, love for golf and football, and memorable books left a lasting mark. Explore his life, works, and famous lines.

Introduction

Dan Jenkins, formally Daniel Thomas Jenkins (born December 2, 1928 – died March 7, 2019), was an American author and sports journalist celebrated for his humorous, candid style and deep immersion in the athletic world. Best known for his sports writing—especially golf and American football—he also produced popular novels that blended satire, romance, and insider knowledge of sport culture. His book Semi-Tough became a bestseller and was adapted into a film. Jenkins’s legacy lies not only in the volume of his work, but also in how he transformed sports writing into narrative art, infusing it with personality, voice, and irreverence.

Early Life and Family

Dan Jenkins was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas.

When he was 12, Jenkins attended the 1941 U.S. Open at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth—an experience that left a strong impression on him and deepened his connection to golf.

Jenkins wrote for his high school newspaper at R. L. Paschal High School (the Pantherette) and submitted local sporting parody pieces, one of which caught the attention of Blackie Sherrod, the sports editor at the Fort Worth Press. Sherrod would later help bring Jenkins into professional journalism.

Youth and Education

Jenkins attended Texas Christian University (TCU) where he studied English and journalism.

Even during college, he maintained connections to sports journalism. As a student, he covered the 1951 U.S. Open for the Fort Worth Press, reporting on Ben Hogan’s victory—foreshadowing the long friendship and professional admiration Jenkins would later carry for Hogan.

Upon graduation in 1953, Jenkins continued working for the Fort Worth Press and later for the Dallas Times Herald, establishing his craft and reputation in regional sports coverage.

Career and Achievements

Establishing a Sportswriting Reputation

Jenkins’s early work in Texas newspapers allowed him to hone a sharp, witty voice and a deep knowledge of sports culture.

In 1962 (or early 1960s), Sports Illustrated hired Jenkins as a full-time contributor. Over the decades, he wrote over 500 articles for the magazine, covering major events in college football and especially in golf.

As a golf writer, Jenkins developed a signature style: he often wrote informally, mixing humor, vivid scenes, and a sense of the personalities behind the sport. He is credited with elevating golf journalism by treating tournaments not simply as events but as dramas with human stakes. the man at the Masters for Sports Illustrated, often writing tournament coverage in one sitting on Sunday nights.

Novels and Literary Work

While continuing his journalism, Jenkins began to publish novels. His first major success came in 1972 with Semi-Tough, a satirical novel about football players Billy Clyde Puckett and Shake Tiller and their romantic entanglements. Semi-Tough became a bestseller and was later adapted into a film (1977) starring Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson.

Other notable works include:

• Dead Solid Perfect (1974), a novel about life on the PGA Tour, later adapted into a TV movie.

• Baja Oklahoma (1981)

• Fast (1988), You Call It Sports, But I Say It’s a Jungle Out There (1989), You Gotta Play Hurt (1991), Bubba Talks: Of Life, Love, Sex, Whiskey, Politics, Movies, Food, Foreigners, Teenagers, Football (1993), Fairways and Greens (1994), and more.

• Later works include his memoir His Ownself: A Semi-Memoir (2014) and his final novel Stick a Fork in Me (2017).

In total, Jenkins authored or coauthored more than 20 books and hundreds of articles over a career spanning roughly eight decades.

Later Career and Honors

In 1985, Jenkins left Sports Illustrated (reportedly after a dispute with management) and began contributing regularly to Golf Digest, while continuing his fiction writing.

He also continued covering major tournaments—by some counts, Jenkins covered around 232 major golf championships in his lifetime (68 Masters, 63 U.S. Opens, 45 British Opens, 56 PGAs).

Jenkins received numerous honors:

• 1993: Inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame (Distinguished Service)

• 1996: Induction into the National Sportscasters & Sportswriters Hall of Fame (Texas)

• 2012: PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing

• 2012: Induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in the Lifetime Achievement Category

• 2013: Red Smith Award for exceptional sports journalism

• 2015: Old Tom Morris Award (Golf Course Superintendents Association’s highest honor)

• 2017: Ring Lardner Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism

• Also, TCU named the press box at Amon G. Carter Stadium in his honor, and the University of Texas established the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting.

When Jenkins died in 2019 in Fort Worth (at age 90), he was still working—editing manuscripts until the last day.

Historical Context & Influence

Jenkins’s emergence as a sportswriter occurred during a period when sports journalism was still fairly formal and tied to reciting results, stats, and player quotes. He helped shift the genre toward narrative, personality, and humor—showing that reporting on sports could be as much about character, tension, and atmosphere as about scores.

He bridged eras—from the golden age of golf and legends like Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, all the way through the rise of Tiger Woods. His long career gave him a vantage point few others had. Jenkins’s influence extends to a generation of sportswriters who seek to blend voice, wit, and close attention to detail.

In fiction, Semi-Tough and Dead Solid Perfect stand as sports novels that go beyond game mechanics to explore the lives, friendships, and foibles of athletes. They invited readers into the backstage world of sports—as characters, not just stars.

Legacy and Influence

Dan Jenkins’s primary legacy lies in how he humanized sports writing and made it accessible, funny, and emotionally real. His irreverent but affectionate view of athletes, golf, and football broadened the appeal of sports journalism.

Many sports journalists cite him as a mentor or influence for his style—his ability to match humor with insight, to spot oddities, to make a tournament feel alive. His books continue to be read and adapted (or referenced) by sports enthusiasts.

His contributions to golf culture—through his narrative tournament coverage, his novels about golfers, and his support for journalism excellence—have cemented him in the golfing world as arguably its foremost storyteller.

Furthermore, honors such as the Dan Jenkins Medal ensure that future generations of sportswriters will keep his spirit alive.

Personality and Talents

Jenkins was known for his sharp wit, worldly irreverence, and keen observation. He brought to his writing a Texan’s voice—direct, occasionally sardonic, warm, and unpretentious.

He was deeply committed to accuracy—even when writing humor or satire. As he once said: even in a funny line, he tried not to write anything he didn’t believe.

He was also disciplined: his career’s longevity and productivity testify to a writer who loved the craft. Even in his final days, Jenkins continued editing manuscripts.

His friendships with athletes (e.g. Ben Hogan) and his first-hand experiences playing golf gave him credibility and intimacy in his coverage.

Famous Quotes by Dan Jenkins

Dan Jenkins wasn’t primarily known as a quote-maker in the way poets or philosophers are—but through his writing and commentary he gave memorable lines. Some widely cited ones include:

• “Even though I was making a stab at humor, I don’t think I ever wrote a line I didn’t believe.”

• On aging and consistency: “I covered 68 Masters and 63 U.S. Opens… that record will never be broken.” (often cited in obituaries)

• On his own tombstone quip: “The message on my tombstone will be, ‘I knew this would happen.’”

Because Jenkins’s writing is rich with narrative voice, many of his lines embedded in articles or novels serve as effective quotes or aphorisms for sportswriters and readers alike.

Lessons from Dan Jenkins

1. Bring personality to nonfiction.
   Jenkins showed that factual reporting doesn’t need to be stiff or impersonal—it can carry voice, humor, and emotional resonance.

2. Know your subject from inside.
   His experience with golf and his relationships with athletes gave his writing authority and texture.

3. Persistence pays.
   Over a career spanning eight decades, Jenkins steadily produced work, adapted to changing eras, and remained relevant.

4. Balance respect and critique.
   He was capable of poking fun or critique, but did so from a place of love for the sport—never with mean spirited bitterness.

5. Write what you believe.
   Jenkins placed a strong premium on authenticity, even when aiming for humor.

6. Adapt and evolve, but stay true.
   From newspaper writer to magazine contributor to novelist, he moved through formats yet kept his voice intact.

Conclusion

Dan Jenkins, with his irreverent humor, deep knowledge, and fearless voice, remade sportswriting. He turned match reports into stories and made the backstage lives of athletes matter. His novels bridged fiction and insider realism; his honors recognized both his craftsmanship and his influence. In reading his work, future journalists and sports fans can see how the pulse of a game—and the pulse of life—can be captured on the page.

If you want, I can also compile more of his best passages or analyze Semi-Tough or Dead Solid Perfect in detail. Would you like me to do that?