'The GOAT of sports photography'
UPDATE: LEGENDARY TEMPLE PHOTOGRAPHER KNOWN FOR ICONIC SPORTS, MUSIC AND FASHION IMAGES
Temple native Walter Iooss has captured hundreds of iconic moments with is camera, but his most memorable shot may be ”The Catch.” Longtime Cowboys fans will never forget Dwight Clark leaping for a Joe Montana pass at Candlestick Park that enabled the 49ers to win the NFC Championship game 28-27 over the Cowboys on Jan. 10, 1982. Christie’s Auction House calls Iooss the GOAT — Greatest of All Time — sports photographer.
DAVID STONE | TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM
In the eyes of many young men, Temple native Walter Iooss had the perfect job — photographing the world’s top models for Sports Illustrated’s famous swimsuit issues and capturing images of sports heroes at Olympics, World Series and Super Bowls.
Iooss, the son of a Fort Hood soldier, was born at Scott & White in 1943. As a kid, he loved sports and was drawn to sports photos.
“I would cut out magazine photos and tape them to my wall,” he said.
Iooss moved to New Jersey at age 5, and as a teenager he shot his first roll of film.
“My dad bought tickets to a Giants football game one weekend,” Iooss said Thursday. “When he picked me up he gave me a Pentax camera, a 300 mm lens and one roll of film. Just one.”
One roll was all it took.