Desautels, Larry


School / Team

Aberdeen American-News

Achievements

Co-founder of SD Sportswriters Association; sports editor at Aberdeen American-News for 38 years; dual career as sportswriter and radio broadcaster

Stricken by polio at age 17, Desautels went on to a 44-year career as a sportswriter, almost all in Aberdeen. Was a co-founder of the South Dakota Sportswriters Association. He began his sportswriting career in 1929 with the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald. He became sports editor of the Aberdeen American-News in 1935. Desautels would broadcast basketball games over Aberdeen radio station KSDN and then produce a story for the next day’s newspaper. He was sports editor in Aberdeen for 38 years, retiring in 1973.