Legendary voice of the Georgia Bulldogs, calling iconic games and creating unforgettable moments in college football history.
Larry Munson, a renowned American sports announcer and talk show host, is best known for his iconic play-by-play commentary of University of Georgia Bulldogs football games from 1966 to 2008. For over four decades, Munson's distinctive voice and enthusiastic style brought the excitement of Georgia football to life for fans across the country.
Born on September 28, 1922, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Munson developed a passion for sports from a young age. He attended Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and went on to play basketball and football at Minnesota State University Moorhead. During World War II, Munson served as a United States Army medic in an Army Hospital, and upon leaving the military, he invested his mustering-out pay in a Minneapolis radio broadcasting school.
Munson's first job was announcing boxers and wrestlers at a Minneapolis arena for $15 a week. He then landed an on-air job at KDLR AM radio station in Devils Lake, North Dakota, before moving to AM radio station KFBC in Cheyenne, Wyoming, as a sports reporter in 1946. It was during his time in Cheyenne that Munson met and befriended coworker Curt Gowdy, who would later become a national sportscaster for NBC and CBS.
In 1946, Munson called the Sun Bowl between the University of Denver and the University of New Mexico for the Associated Broadcasting System. Later that year, Gowdy recommended Munson as his replacement for the Wyoming Cowboys job, and in 1948, Munson took over as the announcer for the Nashville Vols minor league baseball team on AM radio station WKDA in Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1966, Munson made the move to Athens, Georgia, to become the voice of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team. Over the next 42 years, Munson's commentary became synonymous with Georgia football, earning him the nickname "The Voice of the Bulldogs."
Munson's enthusiastic and folksy style, punctuated by his signature phrases, "Hunker down, you guys!" and "Well, glue yourself to the radio!" endeared him to fans and made him a beloved figure in Georgia sports. His ability to convey the emotion and excitement of the game made him a master of his craft.
Munson's contributions to sports broadcasting have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Georgia's Circle of Honor, and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame.
In 2003, the University of Georgia dedicated the Larry Munson Broadcast Suite in Sanford Stadium, a testament to his enduring impact on the university and its athletic program.
Munson passed away on November 20, 2011, but his legacy continues to inspire new generations of sports enthusiasts. His dedication to his craft, his passion for the game, and his unwavering enthusiasm have left an indelible mark on the world of sports broadcasting.
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