Bob Davis, the long -time voice of Kansas Jayhawk’s basketball and football, is dead, his family confirmed Friday via Kus Athletic Department. He was 80.
Davis died just a week after his wife Linda’s death in more than five decades. A cause of death was not immediately released. Kansas Basketball Main coach Bill Self remembered Davis as a “selfless person.”
“Bob was not only superior to his craft, but he was also a fantastic, humble and selfless person who gave so much of himself so many,” Self said. “Our hearts go out to the whole family, especially with his wonderful wife Linda passing just last week.”
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Kansas Jayhawks Broadcater Bob Davis speaks to the crowd at his retirement after a game between Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse 5 March 2016 in Lawrence, can. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Seventh seeded Jayhawks were upset this week by Arkansas in the NCAA tournament. Davis’ stored broadcast period in Kansas began in 1984 and lasted until his retirement in 2016. He added his voice to some of the school’s greatest sports moments.
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There was the 1988 National Championship team known as “Danny and the Miracles” for his star, Danny Manning, led by the Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown. And National Title Team 20 years later, led by Self, who became known for “Marios Miracle.” Mario Chalmers’ binds 3-pointer forced overtime against Memphis in the final.
Moneying Kansas Jayhawks -tv company Bob Davis is recognized by athletic director Sheahon Zenger during the break of a game against Iowa State Cyclones at Allen Feeldhouse in Lawrence, can., March 5, 2016. (John Rieger/USA Today Sports)
Davis covered eight trips by Jayhawks to Final Four, Six Bowl games in football and thousands of regular seasonal football and basketball games. Many were spent with Max Falkenstien, his predecessor and later his colleague and close friend, who spent 60 years of sending Jayhawks before his pension. Falkenstien died in 2019.
Former Kansas and North Carolina coach Roy Williams described Davis as a university in Kansas “Giant.”
Logos from Kansas Jayhawks and BIG 12 December 2018 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, can. (Nick three. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Bob Davis was an amazing advertiser and loved KU,” Williams said. “I was a new coach and he helped me tremendously. He put the bar to all those I worked with later. He is a cow -giant.”
Davis also called Women’s Final Four to CBS six times, and he spent 16 years calling Kansas City Royals games on radio and TV. He was voted Kansas Sportscaster of the Year 14 times.
Davis is survived by his son, Steven, daughter -in -law Katie and four grandchildren.
