Jim Becker, Legendary news man who wrote about Farrington’s title -relating team, dies at 98

Jim Becker, a writer and a newsman who covered several monumental events in history, died today in Hawaii, according to family and friends.

Becker chronized many milestone events, such as Jackie Robinson’s first major league match in 1947, hostage-takover and killing of Israeli athletes during 1972 Munich-Ol and his own frenetic Odyssey of getting the first picture of the Dalai Lama in Calcutta in 1959.

But what Becker will be most remembered in Hawaii was his story entitled: “The day Govs won it all …” The article about Farrington, which beat Kamehameha 16-6 in 1965, was put on the front of Star-Bulletin .

Becker said the editors tore all the news and put this story on the front. Today’s main story was “Two Flee State Prison under a hail of bullets.” But Becker’s story would take the whole in the middle of the front.

Becker, who was a spalist for Star-Bulletin at that time, was embraced by the Kalihi community after that. The winning football team would hold reunions and gatherings, and Becker would always be invited.

“He always said it was the most important story he has ever written,” said Carla Escoda Brooks, Becker’s goddaughter in a telephone interview from Connecticut today.

“And you think of all the things he covered in his life, wars, Jackie Robinson and all this. He said that piece was the most important thing he ever wrote … because he thought it touched many people and it made people realize that there is a wider thing to be celebrated in certain parts of Hawaii, which may be less celebrated. “

Becker was in and out of the hospital in the last months. He was hit by a vehicle in 2014, later he loses much of the sight, but not his sharp memory for details and storytelling.

He was born during the Depression in 1926 and grew up in Los Angeles and saw Robinson at College at UCLA. Later as author of Associated Press, he covered Robinson’s first match, with the Star athlete broke the color barrier with Brooklyn Dodgers.

“I was 20 on Jackie’s first day,” Becker said.

He also covered the tragedy at the 1972 Olympics.

What he remembered most was that editors back in the United States made him rewrite the story of the killings because TV had said that all hostages were safe.

He said he could ear gun shot and he knows how gunfire sounded.

Later, TV accounts were wrong and all hostages were dead.

Becker was an AP Bureau manager in the Philippines where he worked with father of Escoda Brooks.

Becker and his late wife loved living in Hawaii and eventually settled in Honolulu for the past several decades.

Becker wrote a book entitled “Saints, Sinners and ShortStops,” describing all his travels and news worthy events. Included in this book is a story of Farrington.

He remained steadfast until the end, said a friend. He even wanted to know about the political events, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to become American health secretary.

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