Woody Durham
Encyclopedia
Woody Lombardi Durham known as "The Voice of the Tar Heels", was the longtime play-by-play radio announcer for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
football and basketball teams from 1971 to 2011. Durham grew up in Albemarle, North Carolina
alongside Bob Harris
, longtime accouncer for UNC rival Duke
. The two played on the same little league team, were both on the same 1957 high school football team and sang together in the school chorus and a double quartet. Durham graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1963 with a Bachelors degree in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures. He is a member of the Alpha Rho chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
, the national fraternity for men in music.
Durham began his career at WZKY
, a small AM radio station in his hometown of Albemarle, at age 16. Many Tar Heel fans brought their radios to Kenan Stadium
and the Dean Smith Center
, and fans watching on television often turn down the sound so they can hear Durham's radio call.
Durham has been behind the microphone for 13 of the Tar Heels' 18 Final Fours, as well as four national championships (1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009). He also called 23 of the Tar Heels' 28 bowl games.
In 1981, Durham was named vice president and executive sports director at Tar Heel Sports Marketing. Durham has been named North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year twelve times, most recently in 2006.
Durham's eldest son, Wes Durham
, is the play-by-play radio voice of Atlantic Coast Conference
rival Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Falcons
. His youngest son, Taylor, is a network affiliate manager for ISP Sports in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
.
Durham announced his retirement on April 20, 2011 after 40 years as the voice of the Tar Heels. Jones Angell
, his color analyst for six years, was named his successor.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
football and basketball teams from 1971 to 2011. Durham grew up in Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle is the county seat of Stanly County, North Carolina. The population was 15,680 at the 2000 census. It is governed by Mayor Elbert L. "Whit" Whitley, Jr...
alongside Bob Harris
Bob Harris (sportscaster)
Bob Harris, the "Voice of the Blue Devils" is a Hall of Fame-inducted play-by-play announcer for Duke University men's basketball and football teams....
, longtime accouncer for UNC rival Duke
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
. The two played on the same little league team, were both on the same 1957 high school football team and sang together in the school chorus and a double quartet. Durham graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1963 with a Bachelors degree in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures. He is a member of the Alpha Rho chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
, the national fraternity for men in music.
Durham began his career at WZKY
WZKY
WZKY is a radio station licensed to serve Albemarle, North Carolina, USA. The station is owned by Stanly Communications.WZKY broadcasts an oldies music format that includes programming from the Classic Hits network by ABC Radio....
, a small AM radio station in his hometown of Albemarle, at age 16. Many Tar Heel fans brought their radios to Kenan Stadium
Kenan Stadium
Kenan Memorial Stadium is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is the home field of the North Carolina Tar Heels. It is primarily used for football. Kenan Memorial Stadium opened in 1927 and holds 62,980 people. It is located in a cluster of pine trees near the center of campus at the...
and the Dean Smith Center
Dean Smith Center
The Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, usually called simply the Smith Center and popularly referred to as the Dean Dome is a multi-purpose arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The arena is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels men's basketball team, and temporary...
, and fans watching on television often turn down the sound so they can hear Durham's radio call.
Durham has been behind the microphone for 13 of the Tar Heels' 18 Final Fours, as well as four national championships (1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009). He also called 23 of the Tar Heels' 28 bowl games.
In 1981, Durham was named vice president and executive sports director at Tar Heel Sports Marketing. Durham has been named North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year twelve times, most recently in 2006.
Durham's eldest son, Wes Durham
Wes Durham
Dallas Wesley "Wes" Durham is an American sportscaster. He has been the radio play-by-play announcer for Georgia Tech football, men's basketball and baseball teams since the start of the 1995-1996 season, and is known as "The Voice of the Yellow Jackets." He is also Georgia Tech's Director of...
, is the play-by-play radio voice of Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
rival Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. His youngest son, Taylor, is a network affiliate manager for ISP Sports in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
.
Durham announced his retirement on April 20, 2011 after 40 years as the voice of the Tar Heels. Jones Angell
Jones Angell
Jones Angell is the play-by-play voice of North Carolina Tar Heels football and men's basketball.Angell graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001 and immediately joined the Tar Heel Sports Network...
, his color analyst for six years, was named his successor.