Quick Facts
Biography
Edwin Milton Sabol (September 11, 1916 – February 9, 2015) was an American filmmaker and the founder (with his son Steve Sabol, among others) of NFL Films. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 as a contributor due to his works with NFL Films.
Biography
Early life, education, and career
Sabol was born to a Jewish family in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1916 and raised in Blairstown, New Jersey. While attending Blair Academy, he excelled in several sports, and set a World Interscholastic Swimming record in the 100-yard freestyle race. He continued his noted swimming career at Ohio State University. He was selected for the 1936 Olympic team but refused to participate because of the games' connections to Nazi Germany. He had some success in the theater as an actor, appearing on Broadway for the production of Where Do We Go from Here. He served in World War II, and upon returning to civilian life, worked as a clothing salesman out of his father-in-law's factory.
NFL Films
Sabol founded Blair Motion Pictures in 1962. Its first major contract was to film the 1962 NFL Championship Game between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers at Yankee Stadium in New York. In 1964, Blair Motion Pictures became NFL Films, with an exclusive deal to preserve NFL games on film. It has been said by his son Steve Sabol, of NFL Films, "The only other human endeavor more thoroughly captured on 16-mm film than the National Football League is World War II." In 1995, he officially retired from NFL Films in his role as President and chairman. In 1996, he was elected to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
On February 5, 2011, Sabol was elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Death
Sabol died on February 9, 2015, at his home in Arizona. Sabol was survived by his wife, Audrey; his daughter, Blair; and his grandson, Casey, by his son Steve who predeceased him.
Awards and honors
- 1935 World Interscholastic Record holder, 100-yard freestyle swimming
- 1937 Big Ten championship, 400-yard freestyle relay swimming
- 1937 National AAU championship, 400-yard freestyle relay swimming
- 91 Emmy Awards (to NFL Films)
- 1987 Order of the Leather Helmet (presented by the NFL Alumni Association)
- 1987 Bert Bell Memorial Award (presented by the NFL)
- 1991 Pete Rozelle Award (presented by the NFL)
- 1996 International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
- 2003 Lifetime Achievement Emmy
- 2004 John Grierson International Gold Medal
- 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame
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- D'Amato, Sally-Ann (October 11, 2004). "SMPTE Announces Award Recipients for Contributions to Motion Imaging Technology". Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Archived from the original on September 27, 2006. Retrieved February 19, 2007.
- "Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011 Announced". Pro Football Hall of Fame. February 5, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2011.