Bruce “Rudy” Martzke , influential USA Today sports media columnist, died on Nov. 20, 2024 at the age of 82.
Martzke grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from the UW–Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1964. He began his career at the East St. Louis Journal covering the city’s professional sports teams. He became a publicist and director of operations for the American Baseball Association’s Spirits of St. Louis.
Martzke later returned to reporting and started his USA Today column when the newspaper launched in 1982.
Martzke received the 1996 UW–Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Distinguished Service Award. He retired from USA Today in 2005.
A sports journalism pioneer, Martzke authored a must-read sports broadcast column for 23 years that influenced broadcast executives, producers, announcers and fans alike during a time when newspaper sports sections paid little attention to the happenings of radio and television.
Martzke’s critiques were essential to determining which networks, announcers and programs were doing well and which announcers needed to improve behind the mic. His column revolutionized how fans consumed sports media.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; two sons, Michael and Brett, and three grandchildren.
