After Belfast Telegraph columnists Jack Magowan’s passing, David Kelly pays a personal tribute

Sitting at ringside for the next big boxing event just won’t be the same. Jack Magowan was a mentor, an archive of sporting knowledge and most importantly a close friend.

His shock passing this week has left so many heartbroken but with many warm memories. The family home has been inundated with those passing on their condolences, even from Augusta where he covered the Masters and once caddied for a fellow journalist in a media competition.

Those in the media are supposed to become cold and cynical over time but Jack never lost his bubbling, infectious enthusiasm for sport and in particular boxing, golf and swimming.

Regularly he would send clippings “to bolster your library” and the last one arrived on Thursday, an article detailing the 10 best Irish fights of all time. “A top ten Irish fights without McAuley-Bassa!”, sniffed Magowan — as he probably would have written.

Our regular trips down south for an increasing amount of boxing events in recent years were simply joyous as I put the pedal to the metal and Jack recalled the great moments of sport he had covered along with many of the characters who had given him the opportunity to produce copy nonpareil.

On arrival at the Irish senior championships it had become a tradition to dine at the nearby pizzeria before heading across to witness the cream of Irish boxing. Little did we know that the 2009 championships would be his last and that he wouldn’t be around for the upcoming big nights for Martin Rogan and Paul Mc

Closkey. Jack, in conjunction with then sports editor Sammy Hamill, had graciously handed over to me the coverage of swimming and boxing in the Belfast Telegraph in the 1990s and did so with unending encouragement, even when as a greenhorn, things may not have gone as smoothly as I had hoped.

On one occasion Jack had managed to calm a dispute between myself and certain Ulster boxing officials around the time of the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

Believing all was well he went to see off the Commonwealth Games squad but couldn’t understand why the boxing officials were once more in a foul mood. A glance at the Ireland’s Saturday Night and the headline ‘Bust up in boxing team’ left him exasperated. “Kelly’s done it again!” But the call that night was still one of humour and praise. Jack’s strength of character in the face of adversity, whether it was during his recent illness or facing criticism of an offended boxer or official was admirable. He wouldn’t back down and shot straight from the hip, just like those heroes of the cowboy films he adored.

His distinctive writing style was captivating and he once told me how it had been sparked by his reading of American magazines and newspapers. Having joined the Telegraph sports team he was determined to make a unique mark and for 60 years he did just that, whether in covering Barry McGuigan’s rise to fame, the Olympics or Commonwealth Games.

But Jack was more than just a media colleague. He took a deep interest in my family life. “How’s the kids doing?” would be a familiar start to any conversation and any help he could give was never a chore. The joy he found in his own family was always evident, delighting in walking many a golf course with grandsons Simran and Kirran while also recalling the international swimming exploits of son Simon and the business prowess of daughter Jayne. And of course wife Betty was quite simply his soul-mate.

Jack’s standing in golf was starkly brought home to me at last year’s Walker Cup. Together we attempted to walk around the Royal Co Down course but at every turn, someone stopped to have a word and in February he was made an honorary member of the Golfing Union of Ireland, receiving a standing ovation for his service to the sport.

Jack may have gone but he has left an indelible mark on sport in Northern Ireland, charting the careers of so many of our top sportsmen and women.

More than a tear will be shed over the coming weeks but the friendship and craic with Jack will be forever cherished.