Donald J. “Don” Friday, who was sports editor of the Stevens Point Journal for 40 years, died Saturday, Feb. 22, at Point Manor nursing home in Stevens Point. He was 83.
Friday was born April 18, 1936, in Stevens Point to the late Henry and Henrietta Friday. He graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School before attending UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison.
With three months to go in his senior year in 1959, Friday was hired to be sports editor for the Journal. He held the position for his entire career until retiring in 1999. At his retirement dinner, UW-Stevens Point surprised him by presenting him with the bachelor’s degree that he had been just months away from completing.
- RELATED: Don Friday was more than a journalist to his community
- RELATED: Don Friday left an impact on local sports
Friday was inducted into numerous halls of fame for his work, including by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and the Stevens Point High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He served as president of the AP Sports Editors Association for three years, and in 1998 Friday was honored by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as the first recipient of the Tom Butler Media Award.
A lifelong bachelor, Friday is survived by two brothers, Jim and Bob, and one sister, Barb. Bob Friday recently retired as night news editor for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at the Shuda Funeral Chapel in Stevens Point. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter Catholic Church, preceded by visitation from 10 to 11 a.m.
