The remarkable life of one of the most celebrated American sportswriters, Damon Runyon, began in the unlikeliest of circumstances - born out of wedlock in Manhattan, Kansas, a city that would later play a significant role in his early years.
Despite his unconventional beginnings, Runyon's early life took a dramatic turn when his family relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he would spend most of his formative years. It was in Denver that he would forge a lasting friendship with the infamous William Barclay "Bat" Masterson, a former western gunfighter and fellow New York sportswriter.
Masterson's connections to the Runyon family in Denver would prove to be a pivotal factor in Runyon's early career, as he would go on to work alongside fellow writers Ed Sullivan and Walter Winchell, who served as his "leg men" in the late 1910s and early 1920s.
As his career flourished, Runyon would eventually make his mark on the world of journalism, leaving behind a lasting legacy that would be remembered for generations to come. Today, his final resting place can be found in New York's Woodlawn Cemetery, a testament to the enduring impact he had on the world of sports and entertainment.
