Search for Houston McTear on Google News. You won't find much about the Baker School track legend, who died Oct. 31 in Stockholm, Sweden.
McTear tied the world record in the 100-yard dash on May 9, 1975. He also set world records in the 60-yard and 60-meter dashes.
But somehow, the death of McTear — once called "the world's fastest man" and "a born sprinter" — didn't make mainstream news. CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports and Sports Illustrated didn't even have a blurb.
Google News search results show that just two traditional news sources — the News Bulletin and the Northwest Florida Daily News — reported on this sad occasion.
The few, obscure other mentions include Aftonbladet and Fidal (whatever those non-English publications are).
Traditional news sources have no excuse.
Shepherd Film and Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, is working on "9 Seconds," a McTear biopic, which must have kept him on media outlets' radar.
The International Association of Athletics Federations posted an announcement of McTear's death on its website.
And the Associated Press is always looking for additions to its wire service, so it really shocks me that the death didn't merit an AP mention.
OK, Sports Illustrated still has its May 5, 1975 feature, "Tearing his way up from nowhere," on its website. It's mostly a good read, but it's unclear how death of the "world's fastest man" doesn't merit the mainstream media's smallest mention.
This is why community newspapers are important: We care.
I knew little about the McTears before Milligan's most famous son died. But after learning about his triumph from poverty and how he inspired others, when sports editor Randy Dickson and I discussed the media blackout, I took to Twitter and tagged every major sports news outlet I could think of, calling them out on what seemed like a blatant omission.
I did my part — and now you can do yours.
Those who loved, remember or were inspired by Houston McTear can honor his memory during an 11 a.m. service Saturday, Nov. 14 at Beulah #1 Missionary Baptist Church, 1975 Highway 90 W. Milligan.
What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BONI: Remembering 'the world's fastest man' amid a media blackout