Spotlight ESPN founder, 'father of sports television,' Bill Rasmussen dead at 93 Chris Bumbaca USA Today Aug 18, 2026 Aug 18, 2026 Updated 12 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen died Tuesday at the age of 93 from complications of Parkinson's disease, the network announced.kAm#2D>FDD6? 7@F?565 E96 ?6EH@C<[ 2=@?8 H:E9 9:D D@? $4@EE[ E92E H@F=5 364@>6 <?@H? 2D E96 Q(@C=5H:56 {6256C :? $A@CEDQ :? `hfh 2D 2 423=6 492??6= 32D65 :? E96 >:55=6 @7 r@??64E:4FE – E96 t?E6CE2:?>6?E 2?5 $A@CED !C@8C2>>:?8 }6EH@C<[ H9:49 H@F=5 364@>6 <?@H? 2D t$!}]k^Am ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, photographed on Oct. 31, 2018, in Bristol, Conn., died Tuesday at the age of 93. ZUMA Press Wire kAm}6G6C 367@C6 925 2? 6?E:C6 492??6= 366? 565:42E65 E@ DA@CED ac 9@FCD A6C 52J[ D6G6? 52JD A6C H66<] x? `hhc[ &$p %@52J 42==65 #2D>FDD6? E96 Qu2E96C @7 $A@CED %6=6G:D:@?]Qk^Am kAmQq:== H2D 2 C6>2C<23=6 >2? – 2 G:D:@?2CJ 2?5 2? :??@G2E@C H9@ 4@?46:G65 E96 :562 @7 2 ?6EH@C< 6?E:C6=J 56G@E65 E@ DA@CED[Q t$!} 492:C>2? y:>>J !:E2C@ D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] Q"F:E6 D:>A=J[ ?@?6 @7 FD H@F=5 36 96C6 E@52J :7 :E H2D?’E 7@C q:==’D A2DD:@? 2?5 2== E96 92C5 H@C< 2?5 6?EC6AC6?6FC:2= DA:C:E 96 AFE :?E@ 3F:=5:?8 t$!} :? E96 =2E6 `hf_D – <6J 2DA64ED @7 @FC 4@>A2?J 4F=EFC6 E92E DE:== 42CCJ @? E@ E9:D 52J]Qk^Am People are also reading… One TV weather team – two devastating diagnoses Will winter be snowy, stormy or mild? Farmers' Almanac forecast by region Want the best Perseid meteor shower views? Here's the where and when Iowa State athletics breaks fundraising record in 2026 Denison woman dies, Lincoln driver seriously injured in western Iowa crash Iowa Athletics, Cedar Ridge Distillery to create first official spirits for Hawkeyes Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce accused of minimizing role in steakhouse lawsuit AJ Pritchard wins over Shirley Ballas on ‘DWTS: The Next Pro’ Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in 'Heroes' and 'Nashville', dies at 36 Defense argues against death penalty in Charlie Kirk case TJ Otzelberger has no plans to add Tamin Lipsey, former Cyclones to roster 5 US destinations that feel like Europe, no passport required 'It's boom or bust': One college football team letting fan call plays State Sen. Mike Bousselot ends 2026 campaign PCA for MVP? Cubs sensation Crow-Armstrong hits historic heights kAm%96 #2D>FDD6?DV 52J\E@\52J 4@?EC@= @7 t$!} 6?565 E96 J62C 27E6C :ED 7@F?5:?8[ :? `hg_[ H96? >2;@C:EJ @H?6C v6EEJ ~:= 7@C465 E96> @FE] v6EEJ D@=5 :ED gdT >2;@C:EJ DE2<6 :? E96 qC:DE@=[ r@??64E:4FE\32D65 4@>A2?J E@ pqr :? `hgc]k^Am kAm#2D>FDD6? H2D H6=4@>65 324< E@ E96 4@>A2?J 7@C E96 a_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ 46=63C2E:@? :? `hhh 7@==@H:?8 ?62C=J EH@ 564256D @7 6DEC2?86>6?E] w6 2?5 !:E2C@ E9C6H @FE E96 7:CDE A:E49 2E 2 q@DE@? #65 $@I 82>6 2E u6?H2J !2C< :? a_`h E@ 4@>>6>@C2E6 E96 c_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 ?6EH@C<]k^Am kAmQq:== H2D @FC v6@C86 (2D9:?8E@? 2?5 2 8@@5 7C:6?5[Q t$!} =686?5 r9C:D q6C>2?[ @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE t$!} 9:C6D H9@ ;@:?65 E9C66 H66<D 27E6C E96 =2F?49[ D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] Qw6 H2D DF49 2 8C2E67F= A6CD@? 2?5 6G6CJ DA@CED 72? 42? 36 8C2E67F= 7@C q:==] w6 H2D?’E 2 8=2DD 92=7\7F== 8FJj 9:D 8=2DD H2D 2=H2JD @G6C7=@H:?8 H:E9 @AE:>:D>] w6 8C66E65 6G6CJ@?6 H:E9 2 D>:=6 2?5 H6 42? 2== D>:=6 <?@H:?8 q:==’D =6824J]Qk^Am kAm#2D>FDD6? H2D C2:D65 :? x==:?@:D 2?5 D6CG65 :? E96 p:C u@C46 367@C6 6?E6C:?8 2 DA@CED 3C@2542DE:?8 42C66C :? |2DD249FD6EED :? E96 `he_D] w6 2=D@ H@C<65 2D 2? 25G6CE:D:?8 2?5 AF3=:4 C6=2E:@?D 6I64FE:G6] #2D>FDD6? H2D :?5F4E65 :?E@ E96 $A@CED qC@2542DE:?8 w2== @7 u2>6 :? a_ad]k^AmkAmQ(96? D@>6@?6 E6==D J@F J@F 42?’E 5@ D@>6E9:?8[ J@F H2?E E@ AC@G6 E96> HC@?8[Q #2D>FDD6? D2:5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD] Q|2?J[ >2?J A6@A=6 E@=5 FD E96C6 H2D?’E 6?@F89 DA@CED E@ 5@ 2 ac\9@FC 492??6=] x 5:5?’E 2C8F6 H:E9 2?J3@5J] x ;FDE E9@F89E E96J H6C6 HC@?8 2?5 x H2D C:89E]Qk^Am kAm#2D>FDD6? H2D AC656462D65 3J 9:D H:76 @7 de J62CD[ {@:D[ :? a_``] w6 :D DFCG:G65 3J EH@ D@?D – $4@EE[ 9:D H:76 {2FC2[ 2?5 v=6?? #2D>FDD6? – 9:D 52F89E6C {J?? '2? w@==636<6 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 {@F:6[ D6G6? 8C2?549:=5C6?[ @?6 8C62E 8C2?5D@?[ 2?5 @?6 8C62E 8C2?552F89E6C]k^Am 0 Comments Related to this story Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies at age 77 The band's representative said Beard died Monday in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, "with family members at his side." Watch Now: Related Video OL Jake Taylor interview | Iowa State football | Aug. 17 Bayonne makes Little League World Series history Bayonne makes Little League World Series history Five Running Backs to Fade in Your Fantasy Football Draft Five Running Backs to Fade in Your Fantasy Football Draft The Man Behind Tommy John Surgery The Man Behind Tommy John Surgery Recommended for you
Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies at age 77 The band's representative said Beard died Monday in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, "with family members at his side."
