The sports broadcasting world lost a legend today as longtime Duke Blue Devils radio announcer Bob Harris passed away. His 41-year career at Duke was celebrated today by many, including Dick Vitale.
Taking to X on Wednesday, Vitale lamented that both Harris and NBA icon Jerry West both passed away on the same day. He spoke at length of how friendly Harris was and how he always shared info with him on the Duke players when he visited for games.
“OMG a tough day when I learned that superstar JERRY WEST passed & now just learned of the passing of BOB HARRIS voice of @DukeMBB for years . Bob was so friendly over the years in my visits to Cameron & was always willing to share tidbits on the Duke players . A real classy guy who represented Duke in a first class manner . May Bob RIP!” Vitale wrote.
Harris won numerous accolades during his career at Duke.
“A three-time recipient of the North Carolina Broadcaster of the Year honor from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 1988, 1991 and 2011, Harris closed his football broadcasting tenure at Duke having called 471 consecutive games. The streak began on September 11, 1976, with Duke’s season-opener at Tennessee and concluded on November 26, 2016, with the season finale at Miami. He called six postseason bowl games (1989 All American, 1994 Hall of Fame, 2012 Belk, 2013 Chick-fil-A, 2014 Hyundai Sun & 2015 Pinstripe) along with Duke’s appearances in the Coca Cola Bowl against Clemson on November 30, 1991, in Tokyo, Japan, and the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game versus Florida State on December 7, 2013, in Charlotte, N.C,” the Blue Devils said in a statement.
“Harris broadcast a total of 1,392 Duke basketball games and his tenure with the Blue Devils featured 13 NCAA Final Four events while calling 10 championship games including all five of Duke’s national titles in 1991 (Indianapolis), 1992 (Minneapolis), 2001 (Minneapolis), 2010 (Indianapolis) and 2015 (Indianapolis). Harris also broadcasted 16 ACC Tournament championship game victories for the Blue Devils in 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2017.”
Our hearts go out to Harris’ family and loved ones.