One of the giants of Buffalo sports media, former Buffalo News columnist Larry Felser, has died. A graduate of Canisius College, Felser began his sportwriting career with Buffalo's Courier-Express in the 1950's, but soon moved to the Buffalo News. Though he retired from his daily responsibilities in 2001, Felser provided sports columns for the paper through last year.
He may be best known for his connections with the Buffalo Bills since their days as an original member of the old American Football League. Bills owner Ralph Wilson expressed his condolences in a written statement, calling Felser, "a consummate professional --tough, but fair, and never one to shy away from clearly stating his opinion."
In a conversation heard on WBFO's Morning Edition, Buffalo News sportswriter Mike Harrington discussed his former colleague. According to Harrington, Felser enjoyed strong connections locally and nationally. Those contacts proved invaluable, providing depth to his columns and helping his newspaper stay on top of the local sports scene.
Felser celebrated his 80th birthday on April 5. He is survived by his wife, Beverly, and two daughters.