Gary McKillips, ASA Advisory Board Member,
Chosen to Play Jack Whitaker
in New ESPN Film, "Ruffian"

April 25, 2006- - Lou Schwartz,, President of the American Sportscasters Association (ASA), announced today that, at his recommendation, Gary McKillips, Advisory Board Member of the ASA, was chosen to play legendary ABC sportscaster and ASA Hall of Famer Jack Whitaker in the new ESPN film, “Ruffian.”

This feature film, which tells the story of racing’s greatest filly and her ill-fated match race against the colt and Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Racetrack in July of 1975, is scheduled to air on ESPN and ABC in June of 2007 in conjunction with 108th running of the Belmont Stakes.

McKillips, the Director of Communications and External Affairs for Georgia State University’s Robinson College, is also a freelance sportswriter and broadcaster and has reported on Atlanta professional and collegiate sports for Associated Press Radio, Sporting News Radio, XM Satellite Radio, MLB Radio and WFAN Radio in New York.

Schwartz said: “I am extremely pleased that in the last year, five members of the ASA have been chosen to play in two movies and one TV commercial: Gary McKillips in “Ruffian;” Merle Harmon, Greg Lucas, and Bob Ortegel in “Glory Road;” and Bert Sugar in a TV commercial for the Food Network.”