by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — John J. “Jack” Lapos III, 81, a popular and well-regarded Lehigh Valley (Pa.) sports writer for 35 years, died March 22, 2010 in the Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Mr. Lapos, whose career spanned nearly four decades, served as sports editor of the Allentown Evening Chronicle newspaper and headed the Sunday Call-Chronicle sports section. He is best remembered for his popular column Jack of All Sports. Mr. Lapos began his writing career at the Reading (Pa.) Times.
For more than two decades, Mr. Lapos was a familiar figure in the Brandywine Raceway and Liberty Bell Park press boxes and was an active member of the U.S. Harness Writers Association — Delaware Valley chapter and attended a number of USHWA awards dinners.
Mr. Lapos graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State University in 1950 and also earned a masters’ degree in education from Temple University in 1959. A veteran of two years service in the U.S. Army, he also served as sports information director for Muhlenberg College.
Mr. Lapos is survived by a daughter, Linda; son, Mark; and two grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Allentown.