Former ABC Sportscaster, Meigs County Native David L. Diles Dies at 78
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Updated: 11:12 AM Dec 29, 2009
Former ABC Sportscaster, Meigs County Native David L. Diles Dies at 78
Long time sports broadcaster and author David L. Diles died Saturday night at his Athens, Ohio home.
Posted: 11:27 AM Dec 28, 2009
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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ATHENS, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Long time sports broadcaster and author David L. Diles died Saturday night at his Athens, Ohio home.

The Middleport, Ohio native gained national fame in the 1960s and 70s as the anchor of ABC's college scoreboard show.

Diles worked for many years in Detroit television, and he narrated many documentaries on our region's sports history. Diles also covered spectator sports ranging from the Olympics and the Indy 500 to big time bowling.

The prolific author wrote several books on sports and television. Before his TV career, Dave Diles wrote for newspapers in Pomeroy, Gallipolis and Athens.

Diles was 78 years old.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at The Plains
United Methodist Church.

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Marye on Dec 30, 2009 at 09:46 AM

One of the first couples my husband, Dave, and I met when we moved to Pinewild CC in Pinehurst,NC was Dave and Kay Diles. They were married in their new home beside the 3rd tee of the Magnolia golf course. We moved in a year later abd Kay and I became golf buddies...winning our "ringer tournament" in the Spring of 1997. We went to dinner with the Diles and celebrated Kay and my birthdays in June at the Jefferson Inn in Southern Pines. Dave told the waitress that I was his Mother (I'm 2 years older than him) and he was just a tease and lots of fun to be around. When he had heart surgery that year in Michigan, I took care of their house plants and cat. Sad to say, they moved back to Athens, Ohio (our home state) and Kay came back to be my partner in a Ladies Member/Guest (Annie Oakley Sureshot Tourney) that I chaired in May 1998. We almost won the top prize. Our condolences to Kay and her family. The Biglers
Posted by: GARY FIFE on Dec 29, 2009 at 12:43 PM

DAVE WAS A GREAT PERSON ,FOR THE YRS. I WORKED FOR DAVE HE ALWAYS TREATED ME GARY FIFE, LIKE A REAL PERSON, RESPECTED THE LONG HOT DAYS , BUT GOING WITH HIM TO OHIO STATE TOO INTERVIEW ,CHRIS SPIELMAN, IS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET .GOD BLESS YOU DAVE.THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY LOVED DAVE FOR, I WAS HIS FRIEND ,GARY FIFE
Posted by: David Jenkins on Dec 29, 2009 at 01:26 AM

David is proof that no matter how small a high school you graduate from that you can make it in any occupation. Who would have ever thought that a graduate of little Middleport High School in Southern Ohio would end up an ABC sportscaster? He will be missed by the great people that have graduated from Middleport High School and all of Meigs County.
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