Diamond Hogs Announcer Dies At 56
Last updated Saturday, July 28, 2007 4:28 PM CDT in News
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THE MORNING NEWS
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SPRINGDALE -- Larry Shank, 56, the public address announcer at Baum Stadium for the University of Arkansas baseball team, died Saturday morning of cancer at his home in Springdale.
Shank was born Feb. 2, 1951 in Carthage, Mo., to Harry and Elsie Shank. His diverse career included stints in advertising, journalism, broadcasting and management consulting. In addition to his duties for the Diamond Hogs, Shank was the announcer for the Razorback Marching Band and the Springdale High School Band.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Karen, of the home; a son, Andrew Shank of Tulsa and his wife, Brooke; a daughter Amanda Shank of the home; a brother, John Shank of Independence, Mo. and his wife, Marilyn; and a sister, Barbara Eimer of Seattle, Wash. and her husband, John; many nieces and nephews.
Shank was a 1969 graduate and student body president of Carthage High School and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1974 with a degree in journalism and marketing. He was the worship leader and former administrative board chairman at the First United Methodist Church in Springdale and longtime member and past president of the Rotary Club in Springdale. He was also a longtime member of the Arts Center of the Ozarks and had lead roles in numerous productions.
University of Arkansas athletic officials expressed their sadness at Shank's passing.
"We'll try to find somebody to replace him, but that's impossible," said athletic director Frank Broyles. "No one can replace his voice and the things that he did."
Razorback Foundation vice president and retired Razorback baseball coach Norm DeBriyn, who hired Shank in 1990, and current baseball coach Dave Van Horn echoed Broyles' sentiments.
Shank not only announced but sang and entertained between innings. Recalling Shank's renditions at Baum Stadium of the national anthem and seventh-inning sing-a-longs of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and between innings announcements and patter, DeBriyn said, "You don't replace a guy like that. Not only a PA announcer with a great voice but a singer, an entertainer."
Van Horn, both a Razorback player and then Razorback assistant coach during the 1980s before returning to Arkansas as head coach after being head coach at Nebraska, said, "I thought we had it going pretty good at Nebraska ... but Larry blew them all away, from announcing the lineup on the field to singing the national anthem to his PA voice. For everyone who has ever been to Baum Stadium, it's a great loss. We never are going to be able to replace him."
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church, located at 206 W. Johnson in Springdale. The family will receive visitors at the church from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.
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tammyroughton wrote on Jul 30, 2007 7:53 AM: