Jim Buchan--Longtime Walla Walla Sportswriter

Jim Buchan, whose name appeared on the sports page of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin in 7 different decades, died earlier this month. I wrote an article (or blog post) on Buchan a few years ago, after reading that he had been with the paper in my hometown for 50 years.  

The former editor of the Walla Walla paper, Rick Doyle, wrote a tribute you can read by clicking here

Buchan Celebrates 50 Years At UB

A friend sent me a column from the UB.  Jim Buchan celebrating 50 years of writing sports at The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.  I wanted to link to the column, but could not find it  online.  I did find a letter to the editor from his fellow WW sports writer Skip Nichols regarding Buchan's service to the paper.  Remember that links to the UB only stay up for a limited time.

I remember reading articles by Buchan when I was in grade school.  I'm now 61.  According to the column, he began as a sports writer at the Bulletin under the late Jim Reding.  Reding would go on to become sports editor for the Seattle PI.  

Buchan became sports editor in 1983 until his retirement in 2010. He know writes a column and does feature reports.

I never personally met Buchan, but after moving to this area from Walla Walla, I still had a Walla Walla phone book.  This was the early 1990s.  I was watching a Sonics game and the announcer was  saying something about Whitworth College (a college in Spokane).  He could not remember the names of Whitworth's teams. I also wondered.  I, sitting at home, looked up Jim Buchan and called him to ask, without any sign of disgust that a stranger was calling, he told me it was the Pirates.

Congratulations to Jim Buchan on 50 years.  

Gene Conley--2 Sport Athlete With Northwest Ties

Gene Conley, a professional NBA player and pitcher with Washington ties, died last month.  Conley,  was part of a 4 man pitching rotation for the Milwaukee Braves that included the legendary Warren Spahn, won the 1957 World Series, with sluggers like Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. He was the tallest man to ever pitch in the majors at the time.  He was also part of the Boston Celtics team that won three consecutive world NBA championships beginning in 1959.  Although a little more than a handful of players have two major league sports, Conley is one of  only two to win a championship in both.  The other player is Otto Graham.
According to Walla Walla Union Bulletin sportswriter Jim Buchan, Conley grew up in Richland Washington after his family relocated from Oklahoma.  He pitched and played basketball for the Washington State Cougars.  He pitched for the semi pro Walla Walla Bears in 1950.  His son lives in Walla Walla. 

Walla Walla's Jim Buchan Still Sports Writing

At least one name from my childhood is still around, Jim Buchan started at my hometown paper,The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, in 1968. That's before I was a teenager, I'm now 57.  Buchan still writes for the UB, on a part time basis.  Seeing his name on a sports column byline that my friend sent caught my eye.  When I used to read about the local baseball team and high school sports, I would see his writing along with the late Jim Redding, who went on to a great career here in Seattle.  He would also write with Skip Nichols and eventually, Don Davis.  He left briefly in the early 1970s to work in Phoenix.  I would think Buchan is ranked high in the nation amongst long serving sports writers.