Chester R. “Chet” Simmons, a pioneer of sports broadcasting who helped create the ESPN network, died March 25, 2010, in Atlanta. Simmons, who was 81, died of natural causes.
Simmons, who started in advertising, began his television career in 1957 with Sports Programs, Inc., which later became ABC Sports. While at ABC, he helped create the iconic series Wide World of Sports. He later became president of NBC Sports and then ESPN, according to new reports.
He joined ESPN as president and chief operating officer on July 31, 1979, just prior to the network’s launch on September 7 of that year. Drawing on his abundant experience in network sports, Simmons foresaw the vast expansion of ESPN from the time he joined the company.
He left ESPN in 1982 to become the founding commissioner of the USFL football league, a position he held until 1985. Since 1986, he divided his time between Savannah and Atlanta.
In 2005, Simmons received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th annual Sports Emmy Awards. He also had the distinction of being interviewed by the Television Academy Foundation’s Archive of American Television on December 16, 2008.
He was born on July 11, 1928, in New York City, and grew up in Ossining, N.Y., and Pawtucket, R.I.
After graduating from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard before embarking on his media career.
He is survived Harriet, his wife of 53 years, four children and nine grandchildren.