Born in Frost Texas, he lived in Washington, DC and Marlboro, NJ before moving to Manchester 13 years ago.
Prior to retiring in 1997, he was a Radio Announcer for WABC Radio in NY.
Mr. Whitfield was a United States Army Veteran
Shelby Whitfield was born on April 13, 1935 in Frost, Texas. He graduated from Hereford High School in 1952 and continued his studies at University of Texas, Austin. He had a life long interest in sports and broadcasting. In 1955, Whitfield joined the U.S. Army and after basic training in Fort Collins, CO and Radio School in New York, went on to become Sports Director of the Armed Forces Network (AFN) Radio Europe. In 1968, his career in broadcasting continued when he moved to Washington, DC to accept a position to broadcast baseball games for the Washington Senators who were coached at the time by Ted Williams. In 1973, Whitfield wrote a book about his exploits with the Senators called Kiss it Goodbye. In 1981, Whitfield moved to New Jersey to became Sports Director and Executive Producer of ABC Sports Radio in New York. While working in this capacity, Whitfield authored his second book, co-written with Howard Cosell, entitled What's Wrong With Sports? Whitfield also won three Excellence in Sports Performance (ESPY) awards for his superior radio coverage of the Triple Crown in Thoroughbred Racing.
Surviving is his wife of 54 years Lora Napierski Whitfield. A son Drew Whitfield of Plainfield. 3 daughters: Shauna Lawrence of Maryland, Tina Cerullo and her husband Tony of Alabama and Sharon Knauf and her husband Robert of Jackson. Also by 5 Grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Sunday from 6 - 8 pm at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home 3010 Ridgeway Road, Manchester. For further information or to send an on-line condolence, please visit: andersoncampbellmanchester.com.
A funeral service will be held on Monday 11 am at the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, NJ.
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