American college basketball radio announcer, Woody Durham, Died at 76

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Woody Lombardi Durham was born on August 8, 1941, and died on March 7, 2018.

He was an American play-by-play radio announcer for the North Carolina Tar Heels football and men’s basketball programs from 1971 to 2011.

Durham was close with Bob Harris; Harris would eventually become the Voice of the Duke Blue Devils.

The two played on the same Little League Baseball team. In 1957, Durham was a guard for Albermarle High School’s football team; Harris was the team’s manager.

Himself and Harris also sang together for Albermarle High School’s chorus as well as in a double quartet.

During 1961, while Durham was an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he was initiated into the Alpha Rho chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Durham graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in radio, television and motion pictures in 1963.

He married Jean after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1963.

Himself and Jean were involved in several charitable efforts in the Chapel Hill area after moving back in 1984.

Durham was most proud of his work with the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill; his fundraising efforts helped build and expand the home.

Durham also was involved with the Eastern North Carolina chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

He was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia in January 2016.

During June 2016, Durham wrote a letter that was posted on GoHeels.com, announcing that he would retire from public speaking.

His eldest son, Wes Durham, is the former play-by-play radio voice of ACC rival Georgia Tech and current play-by-play radio voice of the Atlanta Falcons.

Durham’s youngest son, Taylor, is currently the play-by-play announcer for the Elon Phoenix.

He died on March 7, 2018, from complications from primary progressive aphasia.

He died at 76 years old.