Ray Christensen, a longtime sports play-by-play announcer for WCCO Radio best known for calling Gopher football and basketball games, has died, the station announced Monday.
Christensen, who retired in 2001, was 92. Jim Christensen said his father died Sunday after an upper respiratory infection.
“Sad news for the WCCO family this morning,” a tweet WCCO said. “We’ve learned legendary play-by-play man Ray Christensen has died. More coverage on air today.”
Known as the Voice of the Gophers, Christensen retired from full-time broadcasting in 1993, but continued doing Gopher football and basketball play-by-play until 2001.
Over the years, he has broadcast Minnesota Twins baseball, Minnesota Vikings football, Minneapolis Lakers basketball, and golf and hockey, as well as 510 Gopher football games in 50 years and 1,309 Gopher basketball games in 45 years.
The University of Minnesota placed a banner honoring him in Williams Arena, and established an athletic scholarship in his name in 2001. He was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2002 and is a member of the University of Minnesota Athletics Hall of Fame. David Brewster, Star Tribune file Ray Christensen (right) is shown interviewing Paul Giel (left, back to camera)
Christensen’s broadcast career began at University of Minnesota radio station KUOM, followed by a term as program director and sports director at WLOL the Twin Cities, according to his Broadcast Hall of Fame biography.
In 1963, he joined WCCO, AM 830, where his duties at the outset ranged from news and interviews to fine music, in addition to sportscasting.
In retirement, he hosted tours abroad and recorded Talking Books for the Blind. Younger listeners might recognize his voice in radio commercials for Washburn-McReavy Funeral Homes.
Christensen served with the Army in World War II.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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