Nov. 6, 2012
Jim Durham Play-by-Play Clip Courtesy of WJBC Radio
TOMBALL, Texas -
Jim Durham, the former voice of Illinois State men's basketball, passed away Sunday at his home near Houston. Durham, who broadcast Redbird basketball from 1970-73, chronicled Doug Collins' All-American career, before announcing Chicago Bulls games.
Durham coined Collins' nickname, "Doug the Jet," during his ISU play-by-play stint at WJBC Radio in Bloomington, Ill. After calling Collins and the Redbirds for three seasons, Durham became the youngest play-by-play voice in the NBA at the time, while Collins went on to be the first pick of the 1973 draft. Durham broadcast for the Bulls through the first of their six NBA titles in eight years, and he reunited with Collins when he served as Chicago's head coach from 1986-89.
Durham also called NBA games on ESPN Radio since its inception 1996, working as recently as last Tuesday, when he called the season opener between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.
Durham was named the Illinois Sportscaster of the Year in 1979, 1989 and 1990, and won two Chicago Emmy awards. He was also named the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Media Award winner in 2011.
Durham is survived by his wife, Helen, their three children, Patrick, Richard and Tracy and several grandchildren. He was 65.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
