(Newser)
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The New York Daily News is mourning a man described as one of the greatest talents sports journalism has ever seen. Cartoonist and columnist Bill Gallo, who worked for the paper for the best part of 70 years, has died of pneumonia aged 88, reports the New York Times. Gallo, a Marine who fought in battles included Iwo Jima, drew more than 15,000 cartoons for the paper, winning praise for his vivid impressions of sports events of all kinds.
Gallo—described by boxing historian Bert Sugar as "second-most outstanding symbol of New York, other than the Statue of Liberty"—kept producing cartoons and columns from hospital beds as his health declined over recent months. "I can't imagine the Daily News without Bill," sports editor Teri Thompson says. "It was an incredible honor to work with someone who so loved our business, and could take you back to JoeDiMaggio and Joe Louis in one moment and to Tiger Woods and Carmelo Anthony the next, all with a smile and a flick of the pen."
