Legendary Valley radio announcer Bill Woodward dies

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Bill Woodward, a legendary Fresno radio announcer known as 'The Voice of the Bulldogs,' has died.

If the voice of the Fresno State Bulldogs was Bill Woodward for generations of Red Wavers, he was also the voice of their childhood.

Starting in 1972, he was the play-by-play broadcaster for Bulldog football, basketball and baseball, calling more than 2,000 Fresno State events.

He was there for some of Fresno State's greatest moments.

"I'll never forget 1988 -- Fresno State is in the College World Series, you're hearing Bill Woodward from Omaha on these calls and it's like, 'Fresno State is a really big deal.'" says Fresno State broadcaster Paul Loeffler.

"He loved the Bulldogs, probably loyal to a fault with the referees and this and that, but he was a total homer for sure," says Dave Severns, who worked with Woodward from 1999-2008.

Severns and Woodward were there to document Jerry Tarkanian's final days in Selland arena and called the first game inside the new Save Mart Center.

"The energy at Selland Arena was unbelievable those last six years that we were together," Severns said. "They can take away the championship banners and all that, but they can never take away the energy and excitement that was in Selland Arena during those last six years, and Bill was a big part of that."

After 37 years and countless memories, in November of 2008, standing next to Jim Sweeney, Bill Woodward was honored for a career dedicated to the Bulldogs.

"it really hasn't sunk in yet but when it does it's going to be sad because it's been a big part of my life for a long time."