Ray Lane
Encyclopedia
Ray Lane is a sports broadcasting figure in Detroit, Michigan. During the late 1940s, Ray played baseball and basketball for the Stags of Mackenzie High School
. In 1949, Lane enrolled at Michigan State University
; he played baseball for the Spartans while earning a bachelors degree in communications.
on Detroit Tigers
radio broadcasts; he also worked on the team's television broadcasts from 1999–2003. Lane has also broadcast at various times for the Detroit Lions
, Detroit Pistons
, Detroit Red Wings
, University of Michigan
and Michigan State
football and University of Detroit
basketball. Lane was also sports director at WJBK
television (succeeding Van Patrick
) and later at WKBD
.
Outside of Michigan, Lane's other works include a stint with the Cincinnati Reds
(1979–1984), and several Big Ten
college basketball
games on ESPN
in the early-mid 1980s.
and is past President of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association and is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the DSBA. In 2003, Lane was the recipient of the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, awarded by the DSBA. He has also been involved with the Michigan
PGA Hall of Fame
.
More recently, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
declared October 03, 2009 as Ray Lane Day throughout the state of Michigan.
. Lane is the father of St. Louis television anchor Deanne Lane.
Mackenzie High School (Michigan)
Mackenzie High School was a public secondary education facility in Detroit, Michigan.-The early years: 1928–1940s :Located on Detroit's west side, David Mackenzie High School was named to honor the innovative educator who had served as principal of Central High School, and as first dean of the...
. In 1949, Lane enrolled at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
; he played baseball for the Spartans while earning a bachelors degree in communications.
Broadcasting
From 1967 through 1972 Lane teamed with Ernie HarwellErnie Harwell
William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 years, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the action on radio and/or television...
on Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
radio broadcasts; he also worked on the team's television broadcasts from 1999–2003. Lane has also broadcast at various times for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, University of Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
and Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
football and University of Detroit
Detroit Titans
The Detroit Titans are the NCAA Division I team of the University of Detroit Mercy . The school competes in the Horizon League.-Basketball :On April 12, 2008, UDM announced the hiring of Ray McCallum as Men's Basketball Coach...
basketball. Lane was also sports director at WJBK
WJBK
WJBK is the Fox–owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan broadcasting on digital channel 7...
television (succeeding Van Patrick
Van Patrick
Van Patrick was an American sportscaster, best known for his play-by-play work with the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers....
) and later at WKBD
WKBD
WKBD-TV, virtual channel 50 , is an owned and operated station of the CW Television Network, based in Detroit, Michigan. The station is owned and operated by the CBS Corporation, and is one-half of a duopoly with sister station WWJ-TV . Its studios and transmitters are located at 11 mile and...
.
Outside of Michigan, Lane's other works include a stint with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1979–1984), and several Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
games on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
in the early-mid 1980s.
Honors
Lane is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, has been named Michigan Sportscaster of the Year, inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of FameMichigan Sports Hall of Fame
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame to honor Michigan sports people. It was organized in 1954 by Michigan Lieutenant Governor Philip Hart, Michigan State University athletic director Biggie Munn, president of the Greater Michigan Foundation Donald Weeks, general manager of the...
and is past President of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association and is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the DSBA. In 2003, Lane was the recipient of the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, awarded by the DSBA. He has also been involved with the Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
PGA Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
.
More recently, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
declared October 03, 2009 as Ray Lane Day throughout the state of Michigan.
Fundraisers
He has been a member of the Corporate Leadership Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Detroit since 1972. Lane has also been an active fundraiser for the United Foundation and the Sanctuary in Royal Oak, MIRoyal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
. Lane is the father of St. Louis television anchor Deanne Lane.