Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: Grantland Rice ( November 1 , 1880 -- July 13 , 1954 ) was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose .
Simplified: Grantland Rice ( November 1 , 1880 -- July 13 , 1954 ) was an early 20th century American sports-writer .