Murray Olderman

Who is Murray Olderman?

Murray Olderman is an artist who specialized in cartoons related to sports. He received the National Cartoonist Society Sports Cartoon Award for 1974 and 1978. His artwork often accompanied the sports stories he authored. His art also has been used by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and hung above the Hall of Fame busts. Recently, the Hall of Fame made all the artwork digital so it has to be accessed by visitors to the hall though electronic kiosks.

His work appeared in 750 daily newspapers for the greater part of 35 years. His columns and cartoons were distributed by the Newspaper Enterprise Association, a Scripps-Howard syndicate.

His employment with the NEA began in 1952, he became its sports editor in 1964, and its executive editor in 1968, a contributing editor in 1971. Although he "retired" in 1987, he was active until the newsservice was overtaken by a larger corporation.

He is the founder of the Jim Thorpe Trophy, for the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player and distributed by the NEA. He also founded the NEA All-Pro team in 1954, which ran though 1992. It was considered the "Player's All-Pro team" since Olderman would poll NFL players to compile the team.