| Overall UK Wins: 4 | Overall UK Losses: 4 | Win % 50 |
Date of Birth: October 23, 1901
Date of Death: November 21, 1969
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Alma Mater: Loyola (MD) [1922]

For a generalized listing of officials, please consult this page.

Obituary - Baltimore (MD) Evening Sun (November 22, 1969)

Paul Menton Dies; Ex-Sports Editor

A. Paul Menton, the gruff but soft-hearted sports editor of The Evening Sun for 41 years before his retirement in 1967, died yesterday of an apparent heart attack while driving his car in downtown Baltimore.

Mr. Menton, while better known as a sportswriter, also was a National Football League referee for many years and a major-college basketball referee.

Mr. Menton, the man sportscaster Vince Bagli once called the "father to all of us in sports," was 68. His death came less than two months after the death of his wife.

Police said Mr. Menton was driving east on Centre street alongside the Sunpapers building about 1:50 P.M. yesterday when his car sideswiped another car and went onto the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital.

5 Words End Last Column

His column "Viewpoint" was read by generations of Baltimoreans and friends said it was typical when in January, 1967, he quietly announced his retirement in the five words that ended his last column: "With this, I leave you."

Mr. Menton never returned to the Sunpapers building again, former colleagues said.

He was with The Evening Sun for 43 years.

A requiem mass for Mr. Menton will be offered at 10 A.M. Monday at SS Philip and James Church, 2801 North Charles street. Burial will be private.

He was a commissioner of the Mason-Dixon Conference from its founding until his death. He was also a commissioner of the Maryland Scholastic Association.

Bill Tanton, Mr. Menton's successor as Evening Sun sports editor, in a column written shortly after his predecessor's retirement noted:

"We had a nickname for Paul Menton here. We called him 'Father,' a name he acquired from his practice of counseling each of us as if we were his own sons."

Maisel's Commens

Bob Maisel, sports editor of The Sun, in a recent column also written at the time noted that:

"There was one phrase of his writing at which I thought Paul had no peer. Better than any sports writer I know he could take the most complicated situation, digest it, analyze it, and put it down on paper, one-two-three, in a clear, unbiased way that everybody could understand.

"His way always the unemotional, impartial approach. I don't ever remember him leading with his heart, or letting his own personal feelings affect his analysis of any game."

Mr. Tanton remembered that his old boss told him, "Never write a column when you're mad. Wait until you've cooled off."

"Something of a a Softie"

Both sports editors noted that Mr. Menton had a gruff exterior, but beneath it, according to Mr. Maisel, he was "something of a softie."

Mr. Menton was offered the job of general manager of the Orioles in 1957, but he turned it down saying that at 55 he was too old to start a new career.

Mr. Menton graduated from Loyola High School in 1918 and received a bachelor's degree from Loyola College in 1922.

Before coming to The Evening Sun in 1923 as a golf writer, he worked three months for the Baltimore American and another three months for the Baltimore Post.

Became Editor in in 1925

He became sports editor of The Evening Sun in 1925. He later also served as sports adviser for WMAR-TV.

Mr. Menton's career as a referee ran parallel to his newspaper work.

He was a student at Loyola College in 1921 when he was named commissioner of the Maryland Scholastic Association. He assigned all of the officials who worked the association's football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and soccer games.

Mr. Menton was an official for National Football League games from 1923 to 1938. During that time and until 1953, he continued officiating college football games and was an umpire at Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Sun Bowl games.

Basketball Activities

As a basketball referee, he officiated at 18 consecutive Southern Conference tournaments as well as at NCAA Championships and Olympic trials.

He was president of the Colts Foundation which provided college scholarships.

Mr. Menton was also vice president of the University of Baltimore's board of trustees for many years. He was appointed chairman of the board in 1967.

IN 1927, Mr. Menton married the former Jean Dawson, who at the time was a reporter on The Evening Sun.

Married in Hospital

The wedding was scheduled to be held in Williamsport, Pa., but Mr. Menton was hospitalized. Rather than change the date,the ceremony was held at South Baltimore General Hospital.

Mrs. Menton died September 24.

Mr. Menton is survived by a son, J. Dennis Menton of New Canaan, Conn.; a sister, Margaret M. Menton of Baltimore, and four grandchildren. A second son, James P. Menton, died in 1966.

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