HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Ernie Salvatore, the pioneer of sports writers in the Tri-State, died Friday at his home at the age of 87.

Salvatore’s career spanned six decades as a writer, editor and sports columnist for the Huntington Herald-Advertiser and later the Herald-Dispatch.

H-D executive editor Ed Dawson called Salvatore a mentor to generations of journalists.

A native of Greenwich, Conn., Salvatore attended Marshall College — now Marshall University — and landed a job with the Herald-Advertiser.

In 2008 the Marshall football stadium press box was named in Salvatore’s honor. The longtime sports writer served as a consultant toward the layout of the press box when the new stadium was built.

Salvatore was a constant presence at Marshall athletic contests, especially football and basketball. Salvatore was also a boxing enthusiast and always helped in promoting the sport.

Marshall interim athletic director David Steele expressed the school’s sorrow regarding the death of not only a long-time sports writer but a graduate as well.

“On behalf of the athletic department, I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the Salvatore family,” said Steele.

“For nearly half a century, Ernie covered Marshall athletics and brought our story to the fan like no other and in the process, he became a part of our family. He will be missed.”

In the 2006 Warner Brother movie “We Are Marshall,” Salvatore’s character in the film was played by actor Mark Oliver.

Klingel Carpenter Mortuary of Huntington is in charge of arrangement.