The innovator behind more Sports Illustrated covers than any other artist has died.
Sports artist and Massachusetts native Donald Moss died of natural causes May 18 at age 90 in Farmington, Conn., The New York Times reports.
Moss freelanced for Sports Illustrated for more than 30 years, beginning shortly after its first issue in 1954.
He admired athletes for their determination and intensity.
"I have always been impressed by athletes who give everything to their sport," Moss said in his biography for the 1985 Sport Artist of the Year award, presented to him by the United States Sports Academy.
Moss’ last Sports Illustrated cover ran in 1984 during a time, to his dismay, when the use of photography began to overtake illustration in the magazine.
"Photos do not bring out the values, color, depth, length or height that an illustration can," Moss told The New York Times in 1979.
Not just a cover artist, Moss also produced Olympic logos and promotional material for such sporting events as the U.S. Open, New York City Marathon and Super Bowl.
