RIP Bud Lynch

[higgyfan4]

#RedWings PA Announcer, Budd Lynch, dies at the age of 95. Budd was a character, a veteran, a damn fine man! Miss him already. Sad day! #RIP

 

[higgyfan4]

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) The Red Wings confirmed that longtime announcer Budd Lynch died Tuesday morning at the age of 95. Lynch, who lost his right arm in World War II, was the Wings public address announcer since 1985.

That means Red Wings fans may not know his name, but they do know his voice.

Lynch, a Wyandotte resident, started his career as the Wings’ play-by-play announcer in 1949 when he returned home from combat.

As luck would have it, the team won the Stanley Cup the first season he joined.

Lynch tried to retire twice, and was foiled both times. In 1975 he was brought back by Alex Delvecchio as the director of publicity; a second retirement attempt failed in the 1980s when Marian Ilitch, wife of owner Mike Ilitch, asked him to stay on.

Lynch was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985, and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

Lynch wrote a book “My Life: From Normandy to Hockeytown in 2007,” where he highlighted his time as a soldier, how he lost his arm to a rocket not long after the D-Day Invasion at Normandy, and how he returned to broadcasting.

A true American Hero. You will be missed Bud.

 

[mattola]

always tough to lose someone that brought so much to the game. RIP.....

 

[dash]

Who's going to announce Karen Newman to sing the National Anthem at the Joe now?

/RIP Budd

 

[higgyfan4]

The Detroit Red Wings say the team’s longtime public-address announcer Budd Lynch has died. He was 95.

Red Wings spokesman John Hahn says Lynch died this morning in Michigan. Hahn says the team plans to release additional information later in the day.

Lynch served with the Essex Scottish Regiment during World War II and lost an arm in a rocket attack. He later joined the Wings as a broadcaster.

Lynch was public-address announcer at Joe Louis Arena for more than 25 years.

Here's a mini-profile of Lynch, from 2009:

Who: Frank Joseph James Lynch -- legally changed to Budd after World War II when he became a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen.

• Died this morning at age 95.

• Born: Windsor.

• Resided: Wyandotte.

• Red Wings career: Radio and then television broadcaster (1949-75); public-relations director (1975-85); public-address announcer since 1985.

• World War II vet: Member of the Canadian Army's Essex Scottish regiment. Landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, on D Day -- June 6, 1944. A month later, he lost his right arm and shoulder after being hit by a German shell in Caen, France.
• Autobiography: "My Life: From Normandy to Hockeytown, " published in 2007 by Olympia Entertainment.

• Favorite pastime: Golf. "I drive right and putt left -- it drives my playing partners crazy."

• Favorite cigar: Churchill.

• Favorite city:"Any of the Original Six. With expansion, I enjoyed Vancouver. And L.A. was always fascinating to me."

• Favorite road story:"I have so many, but here's one: The train trips coming out of Montreal were always impressive. We played bridge a lot. Once I went down to another car, and I came back and my Kleenex box that I used to stick all my cards in (to hold them up) was on fire. I said, ‘What happened?' Someone said, ‘Gordie took a look at your hand and said it was horse (poop).' " Gordie as in Howe, of course.

• Bet you didn't know: Lynch has been at the microphone for eight of the Wings' 11 Stanley Cup championships. He has five rings, beginning with the 1953-54 season. He plans to give them to his grandchildren.

• Favorite saying:" ‘Assess a man for what he has, not what he has not.' That's a phrase I use all the time from the War Amps (the War Amputations of Canada, Southwestern Ontario branch)."

Red Wings legend Budd Lynch dies | Detroit Red Wings | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

 

[dash]

Thanks for posting that higgy, didn't know Budd was part of the Canadian troops that stormed the beach at Normandy (much respect to those guys).

Have some

 

[blindbaby]

The last of the old school announcers. I loved his dry style; reminded me a bit of Paul Morris.

RIP

 

[dash]

The last of the old school announcers. I loved his dry style; reminded me a bit of Paul Morris.

RIP

Don Taylor usually does his best Paul Morris imitation when doing Leafs highlights on Sportnet ...

"Leafs goal scored by #14 Dave Keon, assists to #6 Ron Ellis and #2 Ian Turnbull"

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

Nooooooooooo....

And with Alex Karras on his way out, not a good time for Detroit sports fans.

 

[sherbert1421]

this crappy offseason just got crappier

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

this crappy offseason just got crappier

All we need to hear now is that Datsyuk is happy playing in the KHL and wants to spend the rest of his career there.

 

[dash]

All we need to hear now is that Datsyuk is happy playing in the KHL and wants to spend the rest of his career there.

Did you see the latest quotes from Zetterberg? He doesn't sound too optimistic about playing NHL hockey this season.

 

[higgyfan4]

 

[higgyfan4]

Official Press Release:

DETROIT – It is with saddened hearts that the Detroit Red Wings announce the passing of a beloved member of our organization and hockey family, Mr. Frank Joseph James ‘Budd’ Lynch. Budd, the longest-tenured employee in Red Wings history at 63 years, passed away this morning after a brief illness at a local rehabilitation center. He was 95-years-old. Budd is survived by his six daughters Janis, Valerie, Mary, Francey, Patricia and Lori.

Born in Windsor, Ont., on August 7, 1917, Budd Lynch began his broadcasting career shortly after finishing high school when he joined the radio station CHML in Hamilton, Ont., in 1936. After one year at CHML, Budd moved to CKOC in Hamilton, covering both the news and sports. Lynch put his broadcasting career on hold in 1939 when he volunteered to serve in the Canadian Army as a young Major of the Essex Scottish Regiment in World War II. In 1944, he lost his right arm and shoulder at the hands of enemy fire shortly following the D-Day invasion at Normandy. Despite the injury ending his field service to the infantry unit, Lynch decided to put his broadcasting skills to work and he contributed to the BBC throughout the remainder of the war.

Once he returned from overseas, Lynch resumed his radio career and was hired by CKLW in his native Windsor to be the play-by-play voice of the Windsor Spitfires and the Sports Director of CKLW. He called Spitfires games in 1948-49 before being hired away by WWJ in Detroit. It was then that Detroit general manager Jack Adams suggested Lynch should call television games for the Red Wings, a position he started during the 1949-50 National Hockey League season. Over the next five seasons, Lynch had the pleasure of calling four Stanley Cup championships in the Motor City (1950, ’52, ’54 and ’55). He handled the play-by-play action, while men such as Fred Huber and Sid Abel helped with the color commentary. In 1960, Al Nagler, the radio play-by-play voice of the Red Wings, stepped down from his position and Lynch assumed the role. Gene Osborn and then Bruce Martyn provided color commentary for Lynch on radio broadcasts, a position he held for the next 15 years. After 25 seasons in the television and radio booths, Lynch attempted a retirement but was brought back to the team by general manager Alex Delvecchio as the director of publicity. He served in this role until a second retirement attempt failed in 1985 and Lynch was asked by Marian Ilitch to stay on as the team’s public address announcer at Joe Louis Arena. Lynch was in this role for each of Detroit’s last four Stanley Cup runs (1997, ’98, 2002, ’08).

“Budd Lynch was a dear member of the Detroit Red Wings family and legendary icon of our community,” said Red Wings’ owner Mike Ilitch. “Hearing Budd’s voice on the radio and over the public address at Joe Louis Arena was something that every Red Wings fan looked forward to and loved. His calm, friendly and distinguished voice was symbolic of who Budd was as a person. He always had a smile on his face, an upbeat spark in his voice and a kind and encouraging word for everyone he met. The Red Wings, our fans and the entire hockey world will miss Budd’s renowned voice, but most of all we will miss a dear friend. Marian and I, and our entire organization, extend our deepest sympathies to Budd’s daughters, loved ones and the entire Lynch family.”

Budd received numerous awards and accolades for his career accomplishments and his outstanding talents as a radio and television broadcaster. In 1985, he was honored by the NHL Broadcasters Association with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Nine years later, Lynch was enshrined into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was given the Ty Tyson Award for excellence in broadcasting by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. Lynch chronicled his illustrious career and all that he witnessed in his time with the Red Wings by compiling the book “My Life: From Normandy to Hockeytown” in 2008. The Red Wings host a group of 20 military veterans and active members on leave at each Red Wings home game in the Budd Lynch Veterans Suite, named in his honor in 2009.

“Budd Lynch will forever be synonymous with the Detroit Red Wings,” said Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland. “He experienced it all in his 63 years with the organization – from the glory days of Howe, Lindsay, Abel and Delvecchio all the way to the championship runs of Yzerman and Lidstrom. He had a vast knowledge of the game and the stories he could tell would have anyone who loves the sport mesmerized for hours. Budd was one-of-a-kind, not only in his talents as a broadcaster, but in the way he lived his life and the upbeat attitude he always carried. He will be sorely missed by everyone in the Red Wings family.”

Red Wings mourn the loss of Budd Lynch - Detroit Red Wings - Press Release

 

[higgyfan4]

NEW YORK (October 9, 2012) -- National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman today released the following statement regarding the passing of long-time Detroit Red Wings publicist, broadcaster and public address announcer Budd Lynch:

"Budd Lynch had seen so much Red Wings history, had become so much a part of their heritage, that no visit to Joe Louis Arena for a Red Wings home game felt truly 'official' without hearing his voice. The National Hockey League mourns the passing of a war hero, a Hall of Famer and an outstanding ambassador for the game. We send heartfelt condolences to his family, the Red Wings and their fans."

KuklasKorner

 

[elocomotive]

All we need to hear now is that Datsyuk is happy playing in the KHL and wants to spend the rest of his career there.

Oh shit... I have some bad news...

Datsyuk signs 3-year deal, will stay in KHL - Moscow Tribune

 

[higgyfan4]

anyways...

You would have thought Steve Yzerman or Nicklas Lidstrom was suddenly forced out of the lineup and there was no announcement.

But, no, it was public address announcer Budd Lynch whose voice wasn't heard after a goal during an early season Red Wings game in 2008.

The very next day, emails to the local newspaper came in by the hour.

"Where was Budd?"

That didn't surprise John Hahn, Red Wings vice-president of communications.

"He's as much a part of this team as the ice on the floor," Hahn said.

Lynch, who died Tuesday at the age of 95, was witty and modest as he ever was, couldn't believe the attention.

"Don't they know there's a game going on?" Lynch said.

Lynch had been the Wings' public-address announcer since 1985, the same year he received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting issued by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.

Frank Joseph James Lynch had been living in Wyandotte but was born in Windsor, Aug. 7, 1917, and raised in Hamilton, Ontario.

"The Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association mourns the death of Past President Budd Lynch, an Honorary Lifetime Member of the DSBA," The DSBA said in a statement Tuesday morning. "Budd was a Hall of Fame announcer, first-class citizen of Hockeytown and a favorite of loyal and passionate hockey fans here more than six decades. He will be sorely missed by everyone connected with hockey and Detroit radio and televsion. The DSBA extends its sympathy to his family and friends."

In 2009, a big crowd at Joe Louis Arena celebrated him with Budd Lynch bobblehead dolls in hand. The souvenirs were in honor of the icon whose life had been as resonant as his voice. That November night also marked the 60th anniversary of the first Red Wings telecast that had as its play-by-play announcer one Budd Lynch.

But, like Hahn said, Lynch is part of the Wings experience going to the arena. H was been part of the organization for 63 years and watched everyone from

Howe to Yzerman to Datsyuk and Zetterberg.

What was Lynch's favorite memory, he was asked in 2009?

"Watching eight Stanley Cup being won," said Lynch, who was also the television voice of the Wings for 25 years.

Here were some of Lynch's other favorite memories in the interview:

Best hockey player he ever saw: "There have been a lot of great ones, Jean Bealiveau, Rocket Richard, (Wayne) Gretzky. But for my money, it was Gordie Howe.

"I believe it was King Clancy (the former Toronto Maple Leafs executive) who said Gordie "had the best elbows he's ever seen in hockey". Gordie could play whatever style you'd like. But he was so darn big and tough, along with all that skill he had. There won't be another one like him.

"People tend to forget he didn't always wear No. 9 from the start. When he began with the Wings he was issued No. 17, but when the player (wearing No. 9) got cut, Howe grabbed it. The lower the number, further up the train you could move up."

Most unusual moment in the booth: "The night the Montreal Forum was cleared out (March 17, 1955), fans began rioting after Rocket Richard was suspened (and commissioner Clarence Campbell attended the very next game in Montreal, against the Wings). Being a former Army man, I knew what I was smelling (tear gas). They whisked us out there (after the first period). We made it to the airport, but we heard reports of what was going on. It was pretty bad."

Any fond memories from the 1997 stanley cup championship, the first in 42 years : "You know, that was a team that had pecked away, pecked away, gotten so close, kept getting better and then finally did it. It was fabulous to see Steve Yzerman finally win the Cup. The goal by (Darren) McCarty, (to clinch Game 4). It was an exciting evening.

"But, then, to see that team win again the very next year, after the terrible tragedy involving (Vladimir) Konstantinov (limousine crash left Konstantinov paralyzed). You just didn't see, and don't see to this day, teams winning back-to-back like that anymore. To have done that just showed how talented of a team that was."

The excitement of March 26, 1997 : "You could sense something was going to happen that evening. (Colorado's Claude) Lemieux had rammed Draper into the open door (of the dasherboards, the year before in the playoffs), and poor Draper came out looking like a mess. As soon as McCarty had an opportunity he took on Lemieux and Lemieux turtled. Never even did anything. Then, eventually the goalies into it, players were flying around. I don't know if anybody quite expected all of what occurred to happen, but there was a feeling something was going to happen."

On Steve Yzerman : I remember early in his career (Yzerman's rookie season) I took Stevie up to a banquet, I think it was, in Chatham, Ontario and he was just such a nice kid. Polite, well-mannered, just a great kid. We got to the function, and the people there were saying things like 'this kid is so skinny, frail, this kid doesn't look like a hockey player. How is he ever going to be a professional hockey player?'"

He turned out okay, though, didn't he. What a captain, what a leader."

On the Olympia : "It was a wonderful place to watch a hockey game. I loved every part of it. Many of those arenas during that era, Maple Leaf Gardens, the (Montreal) Forum, those were special places with a lot of memories. But the Olympia, it just felt like hockey."

Any thoughts on Scotty Bowman?: "There probably has never been a better coach. He was always trying to stay a step ahead of the other guy. Even when he did some broadcasting for Hockey Night in Canada. He'd come over to me before the game started and wanted to know who was playing. He'd ask me every time, before anyone was even on the ice. I wouldn't tell him until the lineups were announced. But I think he already knew."

From The Detroit News: Lynch as part of Red Wings 'as the ice on the floor' | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com

 

[4thstreet]

Lynch not announcing for the Wings,had the same feel for me as Ernie Harwell not broadcasting the Tigers.

 

[higgyfan4]

@tigers
Today, the Tigers mourn the passing of a true Detroit legend. Budd Lynch will be forever missed by all Detroit sports fans.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Damn... RIP Bud Lynch. The man was a classic, there was nothing better than hearing Bud make the PA announcements while attending a game at the Joe.