Tom Kelly obit

 

In memoriam: Tom Kelly, 88

The longtime voice of Trojans sports called the action of USC national championship football teams and Heisman Trophy winners over five decades

He was not on the list.

Tom Kelly was born on June 29, 1927 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He was also an actor, known for Against All Odds (1984), The Fall Guy (1981) and The Fourth War (1990). He was married to Danusia. He died on June 27, 2016 in Encino, California, USA.

Kelly first called play-by-play of USC football and men's basketball games in 1961 and he was mike side on Trojan games almost yearly until 2003. He did so on radio from 1961 to 1965 and 1973 to 1988, then on TV from 1989 until 2003. He described the action of five USC national championship football teams, five Heisman Trophy winners and 92 first team All-American footballers.

Kelly first called the play-by-play of USC football and men’s basketball games in 1961 and was at the mic on Trojan games almost yearly until 2003. He broadcast the games on radio from 1961 to 1965 and 1973 to 1988, then on TV from 1989 until 2003. He described the action of five USC national championship football teams, five Heisman Trophy winners and 92 first team All-American football players.

Kelly also hosted the USC Sports Magazine Show on Fox Sports Net West 2 and was the executive producer, host and narrator of the Trojan Video Gold series, highlighting the history of USC football. In 2001, he was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame.

“For so many generations of Trojans, Tom Kelly was the Voice of USC Athletics over the airwaves. And what a voice he had. His deep, rich voice was so identifiable with USC,” said USC Sports Information Director Tim Tessalone.

“He called some of the most famous games in Trojan history and covered some of USC’s greatest athletes. He made each game seem larger than life, and he moved fans to the edge of their seats on every play. But he also did the basics so well; fans always knew the score, who had the ball and what the game situation was.

“Tom was a Hall of Fame broadcaster and a very good man who lived a full life, and he will be missed by the Trojan Family. Our sympathies go out to his loved ones.”

Behind the mic

The longtime broadcaster’s career began in Ashland, Wis., where after sustaining an injury playing football at Northland College, the Minneapolis native helped with his college’s radio broadcasts. Kelly’s career continued in Duluth, Minn., Des Moines, Iowa, and Peoria, Ill., before he arrived in Los Angeles to work at KNX-AM on the recommendation of colleague Jack Buck.

 

Actor

Brendan Fraser and Albert Brooks in The Scout (1994)

The Scout

5.4

Tom Kelly

1994

 

Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong in Boy Meets World (1993)

Boy Meets World

8.1

TV Series

John - Announcer (voice)

1993

1 episode

 

1st & Ten (1984)

1st & Ten

6.5

TV Series

Game Announcer

1988–1991

17 episodes

 

Jürgen Prochnow and Roy Scheider in The Fourth War (1990)

The Fourth War

5.5

Sports Announcer

1990

 

The Fall Guy (1981)

The Fall Guy

7.1

TV Series

Announcer (as Tom Kelley)

1984

1 episode

 

Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward in Against All Odds (1984)

Against All Odds

5.9

Football Announcer

1984

 

Van Dyke and Company (1976)

Van Dyke and Company

7.6

TV Series

Announcer

1976

1 episode

 

Here's Lucy (1968)

Here's Lucy

6.9

TV Series

Tom Morgon

Announcer

1973–1974

2 episodes

 

Rich Little and Herb Voland in Another Nice Mess (1972)

Another Nice Mess

5.8

Handball Announcer (voice)

1972

 

Chuck Connors, Gerald Edwards, Ronald Howard, and Tom Nardini in Cowboy in Africa (1967)

Cowboy in Africa

7.2

TV Series

George Kirgo

1968

1 episode

 

Adam West and Burt Ward in Batman (1966)

Batman

7.5

TV Series

TV Announcer

1967

1 episode