Broadcast icon Williams dies at 83
Dean of Dayton sportscaster worked four decades at Channel 2.
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Sunday, May 04, 2008
DAYTON — Miami Valley sports fans who grew up in the 1950s and beyond, recognized the distinctive voice of sportscaster Omar Williams. They also appreciated his knowledge of sports, all sports.
The longtime WDTN Sports Director died in his sleep on Saturday, May 3 in Marco Island, Fla. He was 83 years old. Funeral services are pending at the Gebhart-Schmidt-Parramore Funeral Home in Miamisburg.
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Longtime WDTN Sports Director Omar Williams has passed away in Marco Island, Fla. He was 83.
Get latest headlines via RSS feeds"He's going to have the best seat in the house now," said his son-in-law and former co-worker Kris Long.
Known as the Dean of Dayton sportscasters, Williams began his career with Channel 2 in 1951, a jack-of-all trades then, with an interest in sports.
"It's a big loss," WDTN News Director Steve Diorio said. "No question, he was an icon."
In a broadcasting career that spanned 45 years, Williams only worked at one television station. He retired in 1996.
Last week, Williams played golf. He also had just finished writing his second book, a story of four golfing buddies.
"He absolutely loved sports of all kinds," Dayton Daily News Columnist Dale Huffman said. "He also loved to stop and talk to fans."
Huffman was a cub reporter when he first met Williams.
"He became a friend right away. He was great at telling stories about the athletes he had met," Huffman said. "Over the years, the stories would get funnier and funnier as he added to them."
Born in Cincinnati, Williams' broadcasting career had roots in radio. He spent three years, beginning in 1948, in the United States Navy as a radio operator.
He had intended to pursue a teaching career, but a part-time job at WBOW in Terre Haute, Ind. hooked him on broadcasting. The job turned into a fulltime gig earning $47.50 a game doing play-by-play for the Terra Haute Phillies.
After three years at WBOW, Williams joined Channel 2 as a staff announcer and quickly became a Saturday night staple announcing live studio wrestling.
"Looking back, I realize how phony some of it was, but when it was happening I never thought much about it, because I was having too much fun," Williams said in a 1986 Dayton Daily News interview.
Williams is preceded in death by wife Janice. He is survived by daughter Sally Long and husband Kris; son Scott Williams and his wife Debbie; daughter Susan Williams; son Stuart Williams and wife Michelle; and longtime companion Betty Kimble.
