TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Services were held Friday for legendary Toledo Mud Hens sportscaster Frank Gilhooley. His career spanned six decades on television and radio.
The 86-year-old Gilhooey died of congestive heart failure last Friday.
An article by the Toledo Blade on Nov. 20:
Frank Gilhooley, 1924-2010: One time bat boy was veteran sportscaster
By MARK ZABORNEY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Frank Gilhooley, 86, a Toledo sportscaster whose career spanned six decades on television and radio, died from complications of congestive heart failure Friday in Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg Township.
From 1987 through 2008, he was in the radio booth for Toledo Mud Hens home games.
From 1967, when he was named sports director of WSPD-TV, Channel 13, until 1986, when he retired from its successor, WTVG-TV, he brought sports news to northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
"He's the best Toledo's ever had," said Bill Clark, who announces Mud Hens and high school games. "He's an icon in Toledo broadcasting.
"He told you what was happening and told it to you in a straightforward, professional manner."
In May, at a Mud Hens game, he was the first recipient of the Spirit of the International League award.
"It started for me with the Hens in '37," the onetime Mud Hens bat boy told the cheering crowd, "and it has been a magical ride. I've always said there's no place like Toledo, with the best, most loyal, most knowledgeable fans in baseball."
Earlier, when he learned of the award, he balked. He didn't want to attend. His daughter, Sue, talked him into it.
"I think he finally realized the people who loved him wanted to celebrate everything about him," Mud Hens General Manager Joe Napoli said.
"His humility, his easy smile … his self-deprecating humor — in so many ways, I think Frank represented our community and summarized it," Mr. Napoli said. "All of the incredibly wonderful things that we love about Toledo, I think were symbolized in Frank Gilhooley and how he represented himself and Toledo."
