- Merrill Reese
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Merrill Reese
Reese in August 2008 at Eagles Training CampBackground information Birth name Merrill Alan Reese Born September 2, 1942
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Team(s) Philadelphia Eagles Genre(s) Play-by-Play Sports Football Merrill Alan Reese (born September 2, 1942) is an American sports radio announcer best known for his role as the play-by-play radio announcer for the Philadelphia Eagles on SportsRadio 94.1 WIP-FM. He has been the voice of the Eagles since 1977.
Contents
Biography
Early years
Reese is a graduate of Temple University earning a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Broadcasting. While in college, he learned his craft by doing play-by-play over the college's radio station, WRTI FM. At WRTI, Reese also had a music show every Wednesday afternoon where he spun 45-rpm records from his own personal collection.
After college and a stint in the United States Navy, Reese set out to obtain his first paid broadcasting gig auditioning at WCOJ in Coatesville, Pennsylvania and WPAZ in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Radio career
Reese eventually landed a job in Philadelphia as a newscaster and sportscaster at WHAT and its FM companion WWDB. After a few years he moved on to WIP as a backup for that station's Sports Director, Charlie Swift, who did drive-time sportscasts and Philadelphia Eagles play-by-play. While Swift was vacationing, Reese began doing the pre-game and post-game shows for the Eagles on WIP and later was assigned to do color commentary during the games. He became the voice of the Eagles in the middle of the 1977 season, after Swift committed suicide. Herb Adderly took over the color commentary for the remainder of the season. His 30 years of service as the voice of the Eagles makes him the longest-serving current announcer in the NFL, tied with Gil Santos of the New England Patriots.
Reese's current broadcast partner is former Eagles wide receiver Mike Quick, who joined Reese in the booth in 1998. Aside from Swift and Adderly, Reese has previously been joined in the booth by Jim Barniak (1978–82), Bill Bergey (1982–83, also filled in when Quick had knee surgery during the 2004 preseason), and Stan Walters (1984–97).
In addition to his play-by-play radio coverage of the Eagles, Reese hosts an interview show on WIP the day following Eagles games with current Eagles coach Andy Reid, Eagles players and other guests.
Personal
Reese is co-owner of 1490 WBCB (AM) in Levittown, Pennsylvania, a Bucks County suburb north of Philadelphia.
Reese's autobiography, It's Gooooood!, was published in 1998. The title is a reference is to his distinctive and well recognized "field goal" call, which is usually delivered in a highly excited falsetto, in stark contrast to his baritone broadcasting voice.
His wife Cynthia is a sixth grade science teacher at Keith Valley Middle School in Horsham, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb.
External links
Links to related articles Preceded by
Al PollardPhiladelphia Eagles Radio Color Commentator
1977Succeeded by
Herb AdderleyPreceded by
Charlie SwiftPhiladelphia Eagles Radio Play-by-Play
1977 – presentSucceeded by
currentPhiladelphia Eagles Founded in 1933 • Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division Championships (12) League Championships (3) NFL Championship appearances (4) Super Bowl Appearances (2) Media Seasons 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010Current League Affiliations League: National Football League • Conference: National Football Conference • Division: East DivisionPhiladelphia Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2009 1974–75 Philadelphia Flyers • Larry Bowa • John Cappelletti • Eddie Collins • Bill Conlin • Joey Giardello • Julius "Judy" Johnson • Neil Johnston • Tommy Lasorda • Merrill Reese • Pete Retzlaff • Betty Shellenberger • Mel Sheppard • Emlen TunnellCategories:- American autobiographers
- American radio sports announcers
- National Football League announcers
- Philadelphia Eagles broadcasters
- Radio personalities from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1942 births
- Living people
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