Fashion was never important to Forrest “Woody” Miller. He was wearing the same crew cut in 1955 on his first day in The Tribune’s Sports department that he sported more than a half-century later on his last day.

There was no pretense to Woody, who died in South Bend Saturday at 78. He was a reporter’s reporter — not only bred from the “old school,” but also an instructor there, influencing several generations of writers.

“He was a truly unique person — a South Bend Tribune legend,” said Tribune sports editor Bill Bilinski. “Woody was a throwback, a tough, fair, no-nonsense journalist who loved his work. He was a game guy. He might file an afternoon high school game, then head to the Cove for a night Silver Hawks game. Day-night doubleheaders were pretty routine for Woody, long after most writers had retired. It’s a big loss to the Tribune family.”

“Woody served our paper and our readers capably and dependably for more than half a century,” Tribune managing editor Tim Harmon said. “I think all of us who worked with him are sad today.”

He lived for the thrill of the game, no matter the level.

Woody was courtside when the Notre Dame men’s basketball team ended UCLA’s 88-game winning streak in 1974. He was there in 2001 when the Irish women’s basketball team won its national championship. He was a fixture at Coveleski Stadium, chronicling the South Bend minor league baseball team’s history.

“He was always in the background, but always on top of every story,” said former Irish men’s basketball coach Digger Phelps. “He was always a class act. He was a real part of the Notre Dame family and a part of the many great moments we had.”

“I met him at my introductory press conference, so he’s been with me the entire time I’ve been here,” an emotional ND women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw said. “He was more than someone who covered our team. He was a friend. I’m personally devastated by the news. I feel like we’ve lost a great man.”

“I don’t know of anybody who loved being at the ballpark more than Woody,” said Silver Hawks owner Joe Kernan. “I can’t imagine him having done anything else.”