The WSU chapter of Phi Delta Theta celebrated its annual Founders Day Banquet on April 18 in downtown Wichita's Old Town. This year's featured alumnus was noted sportscaster Gary Bender '62, who was the keynote speaker at the event.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in speech from the University of Wichita, Bender went on to build a successful 46-year career as a sports announcer at CBS, ABC and Turner Sports, and is the auhor of The Call of the Game.
In addition, he has been the broadcast voice of the Green Bay Packers, the Phoenix Suns, the Chicago Bears and the St. Louis Cardinals, among others.
Among his broadcast announcing highlights are a number of key moments in sports history, including the falls of Dan Jansen in speed skating competition at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics and the 1975 “Hail Mary” NFL game in which the Dallas Cowboys beat the Minnesota Vikings on a Roger Staubach pass.
Brother Bender, an All-State high school football player, arrived at WU on a football scholarship. He now lives in the Kansas City area.
