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Byrdy, Ursuline graduate, up for Emmy
By Greg gulas
When the Southeast National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hosts its annual Emmy Awards tonight in Atlanta, Mahoning Valley native Stan Byrdy will be anxiously awaiting to see if his name will be called for his work as coordinating executive producer on “Augusta’s Master Plan: From Sherman’s March to Arnie’s Army.”
The 1971 Ursuline and 1981 Youngstown State graduate — and former Channel 33 weekend sports anchor — resides in Augusta and is the author of two books chronicling golf in Augusta.
Another manuscript, based on the life and times of Detroit Tigers great Ty Cobb, who started his professional career in Augusta and resided there for nearly a quarter century, is awaiting finalization.
The project, 10 years in the making and embraced by Georgia Public Broadcasting, was a labor of love for Byrdy.
“Georgia Public Broadcasting embraced the project and introduced it to a national audience on PBS,” he said. “I am just honored and humbled to be a part of this worthwhile project.
“Augusta, like Youngstown, is a city of champions. Its sports stories are larger than life,” Byrdy said.
Byrdy took over as sports director of WJBF-TV in Augusta in 1985. His first Masters was in 1986, the event’s 50th when Jack Nicklaus won his sixth green jacket, shot a course record 30 on the back nine in the final round — the record still stands today — and became the oldest winner at 46 years, 82 days.
Byrdy’s documentary, which was nominated for “Outstanding Achievement: Programming Excellence in a Historical Documentary,” captures the story of Augusta and its evolution from a small river town to become the center of the golf universe.
The account begins with the Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman’s March to the Sea. After 1865, the influx of wealthy northerners brought with them the game of golf and soon thereafter, would attract golf-playing U.S. presidents William Howard Taft, Warren G. Harding and Dwight D. Eisenhower, the legendary Cobb and later, a young Bobby Jones.
The documentary follows those twists and turns of the sport and its growing popularity, concluding at the height of Arnold Palmer’s career and his fan base — Arnie’s Army – in the 1960s.
Palmer, along with Bobby Jones IV and 100-year-old Errie Ball; the only surviving participant from the first Masters, give rare interviews about the course’s unique qualities.
The one question that Byrdy has repeatedly heard since covering his first Masters was why did Bobby Jones build his dream golf course in Augusta?
“I was sure all the answers led directly back to Jones,” he said. “What I actually found out, however, was that Augusta likely played a bigger role in choosing Jones than the other way around.
“While much of the South was rebuilt in the wake of the Civil War, Augusta’s infrastructure was in place to quickly transition into a manufacturing might and subsequent winter resort.
“By the time Jones came along, the Augusta-Aiken area was already the winter tourism capital of the United States. Championship golf courses were already in place and made for a natural setting for Jones to build upon his dream.”
Byrdy will be at the awards tonight, along with executive producer Bruce Burkhardt and co-editors Charlene Fisk and Phoebe Brown.
“Win, lose or draw we will celebrate the film in Atlanta, Augusta and Youngstown tonight,” said Byrdy. “I really think we have a great chance of winning, but in many regards I feel we already have by bringing the story to a much larger audience.
“To actually win would just be icing on the cake,” he said.
Another Valley native, Jerome Jurenovich, who also nominated for an Emmy.
The Hermitage, Pa., native and 1977 graduate of Kennedy Christian High is nominated for “Outstanding Achievement: News and Program Specialty Excellence in a Sports Program Series” for his work on Atlanta Braves Live and Atlanta Hawks Live telecasts on Fox Sports South.