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ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies at 93 in Florida
Bill Rasmussen, the founder of ESPN, died at 93 on August 18, 2026, from Parkinson's disease. Tributes from ESPN leadership and former colleagues emphasize his visionary idea of a 24/7 sports network and his role in launching ESPN in 1979, which transformed sports broadcasting.
Sports · 37 sources · Aug 21, 2026Read itThe journal
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About Bill Rasmussen
William F. Rasmussen was an American director of television sports broadcasting who co-founded sports network ESPN with his son Scott Rasmussen and others. ESPN was founded on July 14, 1978, with Rasmussen as the first president and CEO, and launched on September 7, 1979.
Everything about Bill Rasmussen →- Occupation
- businessperson
- Citizenship
- United States
- Born
- 1932, October 15, 1932
- Died
- August 18, 2026