Sept. 1, 2003
ATLANTA – Longtime Georgia Tech sports information director Edward P. “Ned” West died Saturday at the age of 91.
West joined the Georgia Tech Athletic Association staff on June 1, 1952 and served as the publicist for Tech’s athletics programs for 24 years until his retirement in 1976.
West made an impression in his first year on the job by securing a photograph of Marilyn Monroe in a Tech sweater for the cover of the 1952 football press guide. The Yellow Jackets went on to an undefeated season and national championship that fall with a squad that featured six first-team all-America players. During his tenure, he helped promote 18 first-team all-America football players and two basketball all-Americas.
In the mid-1950s, West was one of five sports information directors to found the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). In 1964, he received the organization’s Arch Ward Award for his outstanding contributions to the field, and in 1969, he was a member of the inaugural class of the CoSIDA Hall of Fame. West is also a member of the Helms Foundation National Hall of Fame and the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame.
Before coming to Tech, West served as director of sports publicity at Florida State for three years and as sports editor of the Tallahassee Democrat for three years.
He was an avid tennis player and fan, former Georgia State Seniors Doubles Champion, and supporter of the Bitsy Grant Tennis Center.
The son of the late Frank C. and Pearl West, West was born March 12, 1912 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, daughter Ginny Kitchens of Warrenton, Ga., daughter Kathee Covington of Salisbury, Md., son Ted West of Greenville, S.C., five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife Leona M. West, and brothers, Francis and James.
Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Mikell Memorial Chapel at The Cathedral of St. Philip with burial at St. Philip Memorial Garden. The address is 2744 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. The family will receive friends at the church immediately after the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.
