Henry Hardin Newman moved from Kentucky to Birmingham, Alabama when he was in grade school. In high school he reported ran to 100-yard dash in ten seconds flat. He was always on the move and therefore his friends named him "Zipp," The name stuck and became his monicre through his career.

Newman became the youngest sports editor ever for The Birmingham (Alabama) News. He leveraged sports to raise funds for worthy causes. He was one of a few men who founded the Monday Morning Quarterback Club and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Newman was inducted into the Hall of Fame with the Class of 1975.

This biograpny is based largely on letters written to Newman from friends, acquaintances, sports fans, and strangers.