ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen died Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the age of 93 from complications of Parkinson's disease, the network announced. Rasmussen founded the network, along with his son Scott, that would become known as the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" in 1979 as a cable channel based in the middle of Connecticut – the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, which would become known as ESPN. In 1994, USA TODAY called Rasmussen the "Father of sports television." More: Where to watch the 2026 BMW Championship on CBS, ESPN, Golf Channel
“Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. "Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.” Rasmussen was raised in Illinois and served in the Air Force before entering a sports broadcasting career in Massachusetts in the 1960s. He also worked as an advertising and public relations executive. Rasmussen was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2025. Rasmussen had many ties to golf, and he dedicated much of his time to giving back, serving for nine years with the highly regarded Winged Foot Scholarship Program and spending five years supporting a PGA Tour Champions event. He was also a familiar face on the charity circuit, regularly participating in celebrity golf fundraisers across the country and lending his time and profile to causes that mattered to him. “Bill was our George Washington and a good friend,” said star Chris Berman. “He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn’t a glass half-full guy; his glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill’s legacy.” This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen dies at 93, had many ties to golf