Sept. 27, 2007 SEATTLE - Since 1985, fans attending University of Washington football games have been greeted by a familiar voice that sounded the phrase "Hello Dawg Fans." In turn, the crowd responded with a resounding "Hello Lou." After 40 seasons as a voice in the Husky Stadium press box, Lou Gellermann, the man behind the voice, has decided to retire. Gellermann, the voice behind the microphone as Washington football's public address announcer, has decided to retire from his Husky game day duties, effective immediately. He will greet Husky fans with his familiar "Hello Dawg Fans" phrase prior to Saturday's game against USC. However, he will pass the microphone to interim announcer Eric Radovich to announce the remainder of the game. "Being a part of Washington athletics for such a long time has meant so much to me," said Gellermann. "I've come across so many great people and have so many wonderful memories. The fact is that my hearing just isn't as good as it once was and I don't feel that I can continue doing the job to the quality that Husky fans deserve. I just love Husky athletics and it will be very, very difficult to say goodbye." Gellermann, a 1958 University of Washington graduate, was a four-year member of the Husky men's rowing squad and was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame as part of the legendary crew that rowed at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in England then won the 1958 Moscow Cup. "Lou Gellermann is a true Husky Legend, having brought joy and inspiration to generations of Husky fans both as a Hall of Fame rower and as the voice of the Dawgs," said Todd Turner, Washington's director of athletics. "We are truly grateful for Lou's service to the University of Washington and will forever miss his voice and presence behind the mike." Gellermann is well-known for his trademark phrase "Hello Dawg Fans," which he says prior to every Washington football game. He came up with the phrase, along with UW's marketing director at the time, as a way to encourage fan involvement at UW basketball games. Fans began responding "Hello Lou" and the tradition stuck. Following his undergraduate career as a student-athlete, Gellermann entered the Army then served as a rowing coach at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1964-68. During that time, he served as the football public address announcer and called two Army-Navy games at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. He returned to Seattle to become the freshman men's rowing coach in 1968 under Dick Erickson before entering private business in 1971. In 1968, when he returned to work at UW, Gellermann served as the internal public address announcer for the Husky Stadium press box - relaying specific play statistics and other information to the press covering the games. In 1985, he replaced long-time public address announcer Wendell Broyles as the voice of Husky football and men's basketball. "There are so many great memories that it is hard to single out any particular ones," recalled Gellermann. "But, I will never forget the feeling I had when we lost to Oregon State some years back and I had to remain neutral and acknowledge OSU's game-winning touchdown to the crowd. I'll always remember what a privilege it was to announce the Curtis Williams tribute. Chris Chandler marching the team 90-something yards to a victory over USC was special. Trojan quarterback Todd Marinovich and the `all I saw was purple' game where we just swarmed USC. All the great memories... it is just all so special." Radovich, who serves as public address announcer for Husky men's basketball and the Seattle Mariners, will perform the public address duties for the remainder of the 2007 season. The athletic department will conduct a search for a permanent replacement upon the conclusion of the season. |
