Billy Reed, 79, died peacefully Feb. 5 while in care at Hospice. He served as president of the National Turf Writers Association (now NTWAB) from 1988 to 1990 and won three Eclipse Awards for writing spanning four decades-- one each at the Louisville Courier-Journal (1979), Lexington Herald-Leader (1988) and Thoroughbred Times (2008).

Reed was a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, Transylvania University (his alma mater) Hall of Fame and U. S. Basketball Writers Hall of Fame. He received eight awards as Kentucky Sports Writer of the Year.

A native of Mount Sterling, Ky., Reed engaged professionally in sports coverage for over 60 years after starting his career at the Herald-Leader in 1959. He also worked two stints at Sports Illustrated and topped off his career at the Northern Kentucky Tribune, where he wrote a weekly column.

Reed is survived by two daughters, a son-in-law and four grandchildren. There will be no funeral service. According to the Tribune, his family said a celebration of his life will be held, perhaps close to the Kentucky Derby, a race Reed loved.

By Dick Downey