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James Leo Gibbons (1914–2001) was an American sportscaster who called Washington Redskins games from 1943 to 1967.

Early life[edit]

Gibbons was born on June 3, 1914, in Greeley Center, Nebraska.[1] He attended Creighton University and the University of Omaha. In 1940 he moved to Washington D.C. to work as a comptometer operator at the Social Security Administration. He also took classes at George Washington University and at a radio school.[2][3]

Broadcasting career[edit]

Gibbons began his radio career in 1942 as a part-time employee of WWDC. He joined WMAL in 1943, where he read commercials and provided color commentary for Redskins games.[2][3] In 1946 he took over WMAL’s morning show, Town Clock.[4] He also hosted WMAL’s Country Store, an annual Christmas drive that collected money and gifts for underprivileged children, called Maryland Terrapins football games, and hosted a weekly golf show on WMAL-TV.[2][3][5] In 1953, Gibbons became the Redskins’ play-by-play announcer, calling games on a simulcast for radio and television.[4] In 1955, the simulcasts ended and Gibbons called the TV broadcasts on CBS.[2] In 1957, Gibbons left WMAL for WRC-TV and WOL.[6] From 1960 to 1965, he called college football on ABC Radio.[2]

Later life[edit]

During the 1960s, Gibbons began purchasing radio stations. He eventually owned four, WFMD and WFRE in Frederick, Maryland and WPVR-FM and WFIR in Roanoke, Virginia. They were sold in 1999.[3] In 1994, Gibbons was inducted into the Washington Hall of Stars at RFK Stadium.[4] Gibbons died of congestive heart failure on February 13, 2001, at his home in Bethesda, Maryland.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wneck, Bernice (June 1, 1958). "The Seven Sports". Evening Star. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Levy, Claudia (February 15, 2001). "Broadcaster Jim Gibbons, 88, Dies; Voice of the Washington Redskins; Announcer Also Owned Radio Stations in Frederick, Roanoke". The Washington Post.
  3. ^ a b c d "Broadcaster James Gibbons dies". The Frederick News-Post. February 16, 2001. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Shapiro, Leonard (November 4, 1994). "Gibbons Gets a Permanent Seat at RFK". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ "Bell Haven Four-Ball Field Of 80 Teams Begins Qualifying". Evening Star. May 13, 1954. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  6. ^ Gallagher, Shelia (February 10, 1957). "She Still Looks Ahead". Evening Star. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gibbons_(sportscaster)