Veteran Sportscaster Charlie Jones Passes Away At The Age Of 77
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Charlie Jones
Dies At Age 77 |
Longtime broadcaster CHARLIE JONES, who during his 38-year career "was best known" as an AFL and NFL announcer, died Thursday night at his home in California at the age of 77 after suffering a heart attack, according to Larry Stewart of the L.A. TIMES. Jones "contributed extensively to ABC's 'Wide World of Sports' before switching to" NBC in '65 after that net acquired the AFL contract. Jones was a "mainstay at NBC" through the '97 NFL season. While at NBC, Jones announced 28 sports, including golf, tennis, baseball, figure skating and numerous events for the net's "SportsWorld." NBC Sports & Olympics Chair DICK EBERSOL said, "All of us at NBC are saddened at the passing of one of the great pioneers of NBC Sports. His work in particular on the NFL, golf and the Olympics left a lasting legacy." Jones also provided the play-by-play on Reds telecasts from '73-74, and for the Rockies from '93-95. In '97, he was honored with the Pro Football HOF's Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award and in '73 he won an Emmy for his work as writer, producer and host of the documentary "Is Winning the Name of the Game?" A "celebration of Jones' life" will be held Wednesday at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club (L.A. TIMES, 6/14). St. Louis' KSDK-NBC sportscaster and friend JAY RANDOLPH said Jones "was an outstanding football announcer and outstanding guy" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/14). In San Diego, Tony Manolatos wrote Jones "was a trailblazer." Jones started at ABC in '60 and was one of the net's "original AFL voices." He called Super Bowls I and III for NBC (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/14).
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