Bob Davis obit

Former Royals and Kansas Jayhawks broadcaster Bob Davis passes away at age of 80

 

He was not on the list.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A beloved figure in Kansas and Kansas City sports broadcasting has died, according to the University of Kansas Athletics.

Bob Davis, a well-known play-by-play sportscaster known for his work with the Kansas City Royals and the University of Kansas Jayhawks, died at the age of 80 on Thursday, March 20, the family announced on Friday.

Davis was a Kansas native through and through; he started with KU in 1984 and retired in 2016. The announcement comes just one day after KU’s heartbreaking loss to Arkansas in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Davis’ wife Linda passed away one week ago today on March 13. They were married for 53 years.

“His wife must have been up in heaven saying, ‘March Madness is starting, Bob, get up here,” said Jeff Bollig with KU Athletics.

From being born in Iola to growing up in Topeka to remaining in the state of Kansas for the majority of his life, the iconic reporter stayed true to his roots and worked as a regional sports broadcaster for nearly 50 years.

Once regarded as the “Voice of the Jayhawks,” Davis made his way into the hearts and homes of KU sports fans. Specifically, fans of KU basketball and football. But after several years with the university, the local legend accepted a job with the Royals, which he held for 16 years.

“Bob Davis is synonymous with Kansas Athletics for generations of fans, who grew up listening to his calls of some of the most important moments in KU history,” Director of Athletics Travis Goff said.

“Bob’s love and passion of the Jayhawks shined through during the broadcast with his beloved radio partners. For more than three decades, Bob represented Kansas Athletics in exemplary fashion and connected Jayhawk fans everywhere with his famous one-liners and detailed storytelling.

Davis was recognized both locally and nationally for his work in sports broadcasting, leading him to earn many esteemed honors and accolades, like Kansas Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Association in 2015.

Additionally, he was inducted into several halls of fame, including the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

Davis teamed with Kansas broadcaster Max Falkenstien on KU games for 22 years. ESPN’s Dick Vitale once named the pair to his “Sweet 16” list of the country’s top college basketball broadcasting tandems.

Davis did play-by-play for six NCAA Women’s Final Fours on the NCAA/CBS Radio Network, and for 16 years did play-by-play on the Kansas City Royals radio and television networks.

“Bob Davis is synonymous with Kansas Athletics for generations of fans, who grew up listening to his calls of some of the most important moments in KU history,” KU athletic director Travis Goff said in a release. “Bob’s love and passion of the Jayhawks shined through during the broadcast with his beloved radio partners. For more than three decades, Bob represented Kansas Athletics in exemplary fashion and connected Jayhawk fans everywhere with his famous one-liners and detailed storytelling. We send our deepest love and prayers to his family and will forever be grateful for his service to KU.”

In the spring of 1984, Davis was hired as the “Voice of the Jayhawks” where he would work alongside Falkenstien in the broadcast booth.

“We lost a KU legend in Bob Davis ...” KU basketball coach Self said in a release. “Bob was not only superior at his craft, but he was also a terrific, humble and unselfish person that gave so much of himself to so many. Our hearts go out to the entire family, especially with his wonderful wife Linda (Davis) passing just last week.”

“Bob’s distinctive and enthusiastic voice served as the soundtrack for Kansas teams for decades,” former KU football coach Mangino said. “He was a good friend and fun to be around. Our players and coaches loved Bob, and enjoyed his calls on highlight reels.”

After graduating from Washburn, Davis launched his broadcast career the following year in 1968. He was hired by KAYS in Hays, Kansas and began his broadcasting career during the summer of 1968 calling American Legion baseball. He was the play-by-play voice of the Fort Hays State Tigers until 1984. He wrapped up his years of work in Hays by calling the 1984 NAIA National Championship won by the FHSU men’s basketball team.

Davis earned numerous accolades for his work. He was named the Kansas Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Association in 2015, marking the 14th time he had earned the honor since 1975. Davis was also named the two-time recipient of the Oscar Stauffer Sports Broadcasting Award by the Kansas State High School Activities Association in 1975 and 1978.

“Bob Davis was a fantastic announcer and loved KU. I was a new coach, and he helped me immensely. He set the bar for all those I worked with later. He is a KU giant,” former KU and North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams said.

Noted Greg Gurley, color analyst with Davis starting in 2012: “I will always cherish my time spent with Bob. He made a difficult job appear to be so easy and natural. It was an honor and a privilege to work with him. His effortless delivery and wit is what made him special. He was such an important influence on my life as player, broadcaster and man. We have lost an iconic Jayhawk. Luckily, all Jayhawk fans can still hear his signature calls forever.”

Former KU associate AD Doug Vance, who was instrumental in the hiring of Davis to work KU games, told The Star Friday: “I’m deeply saddened by Bob’s passing. He was a great friend and colleague. KU was lucky to have such a great voice and perspective behind the microphone calling KU football and basketball games. He was basketball royalty in the state of Kansas. He never intruded on the game. It was the team and the players. He never was shining a light on himself.”

Brian Hanni, current “Voice of the Jayhawks” told The Star: “Bob was truly one of the greatest college sports announcers of all-time. He delivered so many classic calls with a signature style of passion and wit that will be forever cherished by Kansas fans. Listening to Bob and Max on KU game days was a huge part of my childhood and major inspiration later in life. We’re all lucky as Jayhawk fans to have had such a skillful storyteller painting the picture of KU’s illustrious history for so many years.”

Davis, who also was a Royals broadcaster from 1997 to 2013, was a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Fort Hays State Tiger Athletics Hall of Fame, Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Topeka West High School Graduates Hall of Fame, Topeka-Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame and Hays High Hall of Fame.

“It’s hard to believe that I spent 48 years doing what I loved,” Davis said in a past interview. “I sent out about 500 recordings of myself to radio stations across the state. I finally was contacted by KAYS and went out to Hays to meet with the station director and was hired then and there.”

Bob Davis lived in Hays, Kansas and broadcast Fort Hays State University sports for radio station KAYS (AM) from 1968 to 1984 before becoming the play-by-play voice of the Kansas Jayhawks football and men's basketball teams, a position he held until 2016. In addition to his work on the KU broadcasts, Davis called Kansas City Royals baseball from 1997 to 2013. During his Royals tenure, he worked as the play-by-play analyst on television with Royals Hall of Fame pitcher Paul Splittorff for eleven years. Bob Davis worked for the NCAA-CBS Radio broadcasts of the NCAA Women's Final Four basketball tournament in 1990, 1992, and 1994 through 1997.

Davis is survived by his son, Steven, daughter-in-law Katie and grandchildren Landon, Will, Millie and Hattie. He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda, who died March 13, 2025, in Lawrence. Bob and Linda were married for 53 years.