Woody Durham, who in 40 years as the play-by-play announcer for the North Carolina Tar Heels called some of the greatest moments in college basketball history, died early Wednesday. He was 76.
It’s with great sadness that we report the death of Woody Durham, the Voice of the Tar Heels, at age 76.https://t.co/KsjGXbA9QZpic.twitter.com/KrXNJOCgWh
— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) March 7, 2018
A native of Mebane, N.C., and 1963 graduate of UNC, Durham served as the "Voice of the Tar Heels" on football and radio broadcasts from 1971 until 2011. After his retirement, Durham was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia, a brain disorder that affects speech. The condition was listed as his cause of death.
Durham's folksy manner and smooth voice made him an icon among Tar Heels fans. UNC men's basketball coach Roy Williams said in a statement that Durham loved the Tar Heels, and players and fans loved him right back.
"It's a very sad day for everyone who loves the University of North Carolina because we have lost someone who spent nearly 50 years as one of its greatest champions and ambassadors," Williams said. "My heart goes out to Jean, Wes, Taylor and their entire family.
"Woody loved the Tar Heels and players, coaches and fans of all ages loved him right back. We should all 'go where we go and do what we do' and say a prayer for Woody and his family. There will never be another quite like him."
In his work with Tar Heels basketball, Durham called some of the most famous plays in the sport's history, including a last-second 17-foot jumper by freshman Michael Jordan that sealed the Tar Heels' 1982 NCAA championship win over Georgetown. Here's a compilation of some of Durham's greatest calls and moments.
In addition to his work with the Tar Heels, Durham also spent many years as a TV sports anchor. In June, he will be inducted posthumously into the National Sports Media Association's Hall of Fame.
ACC commissioner John Swofford, who served as the AD at UNC from 1980-97, said Durham’s voice was “gospel to generations of Tar Heels.”
“I was struck by how diligently Woody prepared for his broadcast of games,” Swofford said in a statement. “When game time arrived, he made it look and sound so easy because he had a voice that resonated just so, but much of it was because he worked incredibly hard at it.
“As they say, ‘the great ones make it look easy.’ Woody was one of the great ones. He was just as good a person as he was a broadcaster.”
In 2015, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame also awarded Durham the Curt Gowdy Media Award for contributions to basketball.
Durham also was a 13-time winner of the National Sports Media Association North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year award.
The Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association will honor Durham this week at the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament.
"It's ironic that Woody would pass away at the start of the postseason in college basketball because this was such a joyous time for him," Williams said. "He created so many lasting memories for Carolina fans during this time of year. It's equally ironic that he dealt with a disorder for the final years of his life that robbed him of his ability to communicate as effectively as he did in perfecting his craft."
UNC has announced a celebration of Durham’s life will be April 8 at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C.
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