Dick Luedke To Sign Off As Voice Of The Redbirds

NORMAL, Ill. – It was the end of an era Saturday afternoon at Redbird Arena, as longtime Illinois State play-by-play commentator Dick Luedke called his final home game as the radio "Voice of the Redbirds." Luedke will officially retire following the end of the 2021-22 Redbird men's basketball season.

"On behalf of everyone associated with Redbird Athletics, we would like to thank Dick for all his years of service as the Voice of the Redbirds," ISU Director of Athletics Kyle Brennan said. "He has been there for our teams and the fans listening through thick and thin, the good times and the bad, and has always done his job with the utmost professionalism and enthusiasm. It's been an honor to get to know and watch him work over the last year plus, and we certainly have big shoes to fill on the airwaves here at Illinois State. We wish him nothing but the best in retirement and appreciate everything he's done for the Redbirds."

Luedke began his ISU duties as play-by-play announcer in 1981, when he joined WJBC radio in Bloomington as sports director. For 17 years, he served as the radio voice of the Redbird football and men's basketball, before he stepped away from the microphone in 1998 to become a spokesman for State Farm. However, Luedke's sabbatical did not last long as he returned to the airwaves in 2003 calling Redbird basketball games while still working full time at State Farm. Four years later in 2007, he resumed his duties as the football play-by-play announcer and remained in those roles until he recently announced his retirement from broadcasting.

For nearly 40 years, Luedke's voice is the only one many ISU fans remember calling Illinois State games at home in Horton Field House, Redbird Arena or Hancock Stadium or from road contests all over the country and abroad. With nearly 1,100 basketball and over 350 football games broadcast and hundreds of weekly coaches shows, Luedke has truly cemented himself as the radio "Voice of the Redbirds." 

In addition to his radio duties, Luedke has conducted many interviews over the years with Redbird coaches, student-athletes, alumni, and staff for the department's website. A 1998 inductee into the ISU Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame as the Stretch Miller Award winner, Luedke has also given his time and talents as an emcee at countless Redbird Athletics events over the years, including the annual ISU Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony each October as part of Homecoming festivities. 

GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:  Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.