Das Boot
Footballguy
Hall of Fame broadcaster Gowdy dies
February 20, 2006
PALM BEACH, Florida (Ticker) - Legendary broadcaster Curt Gowdy died Monday in his Palm Beach home after a bout with leukemia. He was 86.
The only broadcaster in the baseball, football and basketball Hall of Fames, Gowdy earned the nickname "broadcaster of everything" because of his numerous television assignments, first for ABC and later for NBC and CBS.
He called 13 World Series, 16 baseball All-Star Games, nine Super Bowls, 14 Rose Bowls, eight Olympic Games and 24 NCAA Final Fours. He also was the host of ABC's long-running "American Sportsman" series.
He may be best remembered for calling the infamous "Heidi" game and the 1969 Super Bowl in which the New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts to place the AFL on the football map. Gowdy was the voice of the AFL during its 10-year reign and continued as lead announcer after its merger with the NFL in 1970.
"Curt Gowdy was a pioneer in our business and set the highest of standards for everyone in sports broadcasting," ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer said. "His many contributions to ABC, as host of "American Sportsman" and other ABC Sports' programs, are indelible. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Curt's family, including long-time ABC Sports producer Curt Gowdy, Jr."
A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming who played basketball at the University of Wyoming, Gowdy made his broadcasting debut in 1944 in Cheyenne. He had just gotten out of the Air Core and had a spinal operation. About three or four months into his six-month rehabilitation, he was asked to broadcast a local high school football game even though he had no previous experience. He made $5.
After a stint in Oklahoma City broadcasting basketball and football, Gowdy joined the New York Yankees broadcast crew in 1949 before becoming the lead announcer for the Red Sox in 1951, a position he held for 15 years.
In 1970 Gowdy became the first broadcaster to receive the George Foster Peabody Award for outstanding journalistic achievement. He was given the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, the Pete Rozelle Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in and a lifetime achievement Emmy in 1992. He was selected for the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995.
Gowdy also bought a radio station in 1963 in Lawrence, Massachusetts and several more in Wyoming before selling his interests in 1994.
http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=obit...ov=st&type=lgns
February 20, 2006
PALM BEACH, Florida (Ticker) - Legendary broadcaster Curt Gowdy died Monday in his Palm Beach home after a bout with leukemia. He was 86.
The only broadcaster in the baseball, football and basketball Hall of Fames, Gowdy earned the nickname "broadcaster of everything" because of his numerous television assignments, first for ABC and later for NBC and CBS.
He called 13 World Series, 16 baseball All-Star Games, nine Super Bowls, 14 Rose Bowls, eight Olympic Games and 24 NCAA Final Fours. He also was the host of ABC's long-running "American Sportsman" series.
He may be best remembered for calling the infamous "Heidi" game and the 1969 Super Bowl in which the New York Jets upset the Baltimore Colts to place the AFL on the football map. Gowdy was the voice of the AFL during its 10-year reign and continued as lead announcer after its merger with the NFL in 1970.
"Curt Gowdy was a pioneer in our business and set the highest of standards for everyone in sports broadcasting," ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer said. "His many contributions to ABC, as host of "American Sportsman" and other ABC Sports' programs, are indelible. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Curt's family, including long-time ABC Sports producer Curt Gowdy, Jr."
A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming who played basketball at the University of Wyoming, Gowdy made his broadcasting debut in 1944 in Cheyenne. He had just gotten out of the Air Core and had a spinal operation. About three or four months into his six-month rehabilitation, he was asked to broadcast a local high school football game even though he had no previous experience. He made $5.
After a stint in Oklahoma City broadcasting basketball and football, Gowdy joined the New York Yankees broadcast crew in 1949 before becoming the lead announcer for the Red Sox in 1951, a position he held for 15 years.
In 1970 Gowdy became the first broadcaster to receive the George Foster Peabody Award for outstanding journalistic achievement. He was given the Ford Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, the Pete Rozelle Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in and a lifetime achievement Emmy in 1992. He was selected for the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995.
Gowdy also bought a radio station in 1963 in Lawrence, Massachusetts and several more in Wyoming before selling his interests in 1994.
http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=obit...ov=st&type=lgns
