Dan Jenkins

Dan Jenkins is a renowned American author and sportswriter, best known for his work with Sports Illustrated. He was born in 1929 in Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended R.L. Paschal High School and Texas Christian University (TCU). While at TCU, Jenkins was a member of the varsity golf team.

Jenkins' upbringing was marked by his parents' divorce at a young age, which left him in the care of relatives. He has described his mother as lacking maternal instinct, which further contributed to a challenging childhood. Despite these obstacles, Jenkins pursued a career in journalism and writing, becoming a prominent figure in the world of sports writing.

Throughout his career, Jenkins has worked for numerous publications, including the Fort Worth Press, Dallas Times Herald, Playboy, and Sports Illustrated. In 1985, he retired from Sports Illustrated to focus on writing books full-time, while maintaining a monthly column in Golf Digest magazine. Jenkins is highly regarded in the industry, with Larry King once calling him "the quintessential Sports Illustrated writer" and "the best sportswriter in America."

Jenkins has authored numerous works and over 500 articles for Sports Illustrated. His first novel, Semi-Tough, was published in 1972. He has received lifetime achievement awards from PEN/ESPN (for Literary Sports Writing) and the World Golf Hall of Fame. Jenkins' daughter, Sally Jenkins, is also a sports columnist for the Washington Post.