Leonard Shapiro
Born Feb. 2, 1947 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Came out of womb a Brooklyn Dodger fan, and have been following sports ever since. Attended high school in school in Syosset, N.Y., 30 miles from New York City, got the journalism bug in summer of junior year at high-school institute at Northwestern University (where John Cullicott of News Service was a counselor). Graduated from University of Wisconsin in 1968 with major in journalism, minor science. Sports editor of school paper and worked part-time on Madison Wisconsin State Journal in sports. Masters from University of Missouri School of Journalism, worked full-time editor/reporter while in school at Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune, covering cops, courts, fire, floods, Missouri football and junior high school football and basketball.
Came to Post in Sept., 1969 as a part-time copyboy in sports while finishing degree requirements in Missouri's Washington political reporting program. Hired full-time in 1970 covering high school sports for two years. General assignment in 1972 and moved to Redskins beat in 1973 through '78 when I moved inside as an assistant sports editor. Named deputy sports editor in early '80s and sports editor in 1987.
After a three-month leave to write a book on Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson in 1990, made the decision to return to writing full-time in January 1991. Now cover NFL, pro golf, general assignment and write a weekly sports broadcasting column.
In addition to the Thompson book (Big Man on Campus), co-authored Athletes For Sale (1974) on college recruiting with Ken Denlinger, ghosted Sam Huff's autobiography (Tough Stuff 1987) and compiled a Redskins trivia book (1992) and Cowboys trivia book (1993). Also written freelance pieces for a number publications ranging from Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News, Inside Sports, Readers Digest, etc.
Married to Vicky Moon, an editor and writer, with three children, Jennifer, 22 (a graduate of William & Mary), Emily 18, (a freshman at James Madison) and Taylor, 9, a fourth-grader at Hill School in Middleburg. Lives in Marshall, Va.
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