Bill Rasmussen, the visionary entrepreneur who co-founded ESPN and helped launch the world's first 24-hour sports television network, died Tuesday at his home in Florida. He was 93.
Rasmussen died from complications related to Parkinson's disease, ESPN said.
Rasmussen, along with his son Scott, conceived the idea for ESPN in the late 1970s, at a time when the prospect of a round-the-clock cable network devoted entirely to sports was considered a long shot.
The idea took shape after Rasmussen was fired as communications director of the New England Whalers.
Undeterred, he put his own finances behind the venture, maxing out his credit card and using a $9,000 advance to secure space on a communications satellite.
Rasmussen then began pitching the idea to major sports leagues, cable operators and potential investors.
His efforts eventually led to the launch of the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network on September 7, 1979.
Bill and Scott Rasmussen co-founded ESPN, with Bill serving as the network's first president and CEO.
"Bill was a remarkable man -- a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.
Rasmussen left ESPN after several years, but the foundation he helped build went on to transform sports broadcasting.
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An early meeting with the NFL did not immediately produce a deal, but helped open the door to what eventually became the network's landmark "Monday Night Football" coverage.
Chris Berman, who joined ESPN just weeks after its launch, remembered Rasmussen as a deeply optimistic figure.
"Bill was our George Washington and a good friend," Berman said. "Every sports fan can be grateful for Bill."
After leaving ESPN, Rasmussen remained involved in media ventures and became a sought-after speaker, sharing lessons from his entrepreneurial journey.
He also chronicled the creation of ESPN in his book, Sports Junkies Rejoice: The Birth of ESPN.
In a 2012 interview with Forbes, Rasmussen said hard work had been central to his approach to life and business, urging young entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas even when the path ahead was uncertain.
Rasmussen was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lois, who died in 2011.
He is survived by his sons Scott and Glenn, daughter Lynn, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his brothers Robert and Donald, sister Vivien and grandson Justin Van Hollebeke.
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