
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 1, 1993                   TAG: 9312010206
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AGENT BOB WOOLF DEAD AT 65

Bob Woolf, who pioneered the role of the sports agent in the late 1960s and represented stars from Larry Bird to Carl Yastrzemski, died of a heart attack Tuesday on his boat off Fisher Island, Fla. He was 65.

He died in his sleep and was pronounced dead at South Shore Hospital in Miami Beach, Fla., the Dade County Medical Examiner's Office said.

His best-known clients were basketball stars: Bird, John Havlicek, Julius Erving, Marvin Barnes and Robert Parish. Baseball players he represented included Yastrzemski, Thurman Munson, Mark Fidrych, Ken Harrelson and Ruben Sierra. He also was the agent for football players Jim Plunkett, Raghib "Rocket" Ismail; and hockey players Jim Craig and Derek Sanderson.

He also was the agent for former Virginia Tech star Bimbo Coles of the Miami Heat.

In addition to sports, Woolf represented media personalities who included Larry King, Gene Shalit and the late Pete Axthelm. He also was the agent for the music group New Kids On The Block, and said two years ago that they brought in more money that any other client.

Woolf became one of the nation's first sports agents when Boston Red Sox pitcher Earl Wilson asked him to handle off-field activities, including product endorsements and speaking engagements, in 1965. In 1966, Woolf represented Wilson in contract negotiations, at the time an unprecedented role for a player's lawyer.

Woolf is survived by his wife, Anne, and three grown children. A funeral is scheduled for Friday at Temple Emeth in Brookline, Mass.

by CNB