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Bob Davis, who spent over three decades calling basketball and football games for the Kansas Jayhawks, died Thursday in Lawrence, Kan.
Davis, 80, passed away just a week after his wife, Linda, died following 53 years of marriage.
He also was a broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals.
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self expressed his admiration for Bob, highlighting not only his exceptional skills but also his remarkable humility and selflessness. Self emphasized Bob’s generosity towards others and offered his condolences to Bob’s family, especially in light of his wife Linda’s recent passing.
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Self’s Jayhawks were knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by Arkansas on Thursday.
Former Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams also praised Davis after his passing.
Former North Carolina coach Williams spoke highly of Bob Davis, recognizing him as a talented announcer with a deep love for Kansas University. Williams credited Bob with providing invaluable assistance when Williams was a new coach at Kansas, setting a high standard for professionalism and mentorship. Bob’s impact on those he worked with was profound, solidifying his legacy as a revered figure at KU.
Davis called games for Kansas from 1984 until 2016, including during their title runs in 1988 and 2008. And Davis also did six bowl games for the Jayhawks football team. He was considered the “Voice of the Jayhawks.”
He also broadcast games on TV and radio for the Royals from 1997 to 2013, as well as NCAA games for CBS Radio, covering the NCAA Women’s Final Four four times.
Born in Iola, Kan., Davis grew up in Topeka and attended Washburn University.
His broadcasting career began in 1968 at KAYS, a radio station in Hayes, Kan., where he called American Legion baseball games and Fort Hays State athletics.
He was named Kansas’ sportscaster of the year 14 times and was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 after spending most of his career alongside broadcast partner Max Falkenstien.
