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Omar Williams, The "Dean" of Dayton sportscasters has died

K

KFodor

Though this is a radio board, it is worth noting the passing of WLWD-TV/WDTN-TV sportscaster Omar Williams. Williams passed away during the early hours this morning at the age of 83 at his home in Marco Island, Florida.

Omar graced the airwaves of Channel 2 from the early 1950's to his retirement in 1996. He was elected to the inaugural class of the Dayton Broadcasters Hall Of Fame in 2003.
 
So sorry to learn of Omar's passing. I used to watch him do sports on Channel 2's 11 P.M. news and also on the Saturday late afternoon wrestling show that came from the Channel 2 studios in the late 1950's/early 1960's. In more recent years, Omar did play-by-play of the Miami University basketball games on radio. I had the opportunity to interview him at the Cincinnati Gardens during that time when he was there to broadcast a Miami-Xavier game. His memory of the sports he covered and the pro wrestling matches he did on TV was very clear. He even revealed how he once left the Gardens (after broadcasting a triple-over time game involving the Royals and New York Knickerbockers on a Cleveland radio station) at 10:45 P.M. and was still able to make it back to Dayton to do his 11:15 P.M. sportscast on Channel 2. He admitted then that his bosses at WLW-D never knew he was doing that broadcast back to Cleveland. I've always remembered the way he would close any of this telecasts........."This is Omar Williams....bye, everybody". Goodbye to you, Omar.
 
Having lived in Springfield and later Columbus, I remember Omar Williams and the live in studio wrestling shows. Everytime I run into a wrestling show on TV my mind flashes back to Omar Williams. I believe he also covered live stock car racing from the Dayton Speedway in the early days of WLW-D. To be honest I don't remember any of the local news anchors (on channel 2) but Omar is clearly stamped in my memories. I also recall Jimmy Crum from the sister station WLW-C in Columbus but in my mind Omar was the better and even in comparison to many others I've heard and seen later up to and including KNBC's Fred Roggin.

This is yet another sign that I am aging as another icon from my childhood passes on. May God Bless you Mr. Williams and may He welcome you home.
 
Do you think Cannel 2 would have any of his vintage footage, to either air live or at least pick off the internet?
 
major said:
Do you think Cannel 2 would have any of his vintage footage, to either air live or at least pick off the internet?
Click to expand...

If you go to their website, they already have tributes and footage there, and they are promoting that more will be posted...
 
Omar will always be the definitive dean of Dayton sportscasters....was applaed when WDTN let him go and was forced into retirement. Omar deserved a much better sendof than that!

Omar was at his best doing UD basketball and also did MAC college basketball(OU,Bowling Green,Ball State,etc) on the now defunct TVS network in the late 60s/early 70s....however my most unusual memory was the time he hosted "Studio Wrestling" on Saturday afternoons live in the WLWD studios and promoting the Hobart Arena wrestling card...years before Hara was built. Almost wish he could have TKOd and pinned down "Magnificent Maurice" who always bullied Omar on the air!.....classic local rasslin' back in the late 50s/early 60s.

To paraphrase the words of Johnny Vance frm an Aristcrat Products TV spot: "Thanks Omar...you always knew the score!"

We will miss you Omar.
 
I heard about this and I met him once. Very nice man.



Jason Roberts said:
Though this is a radio board, it is worth noting the passing of WLWD-TV/WDTN-TV sportscaster Omar Williams. Williams passed away during the early hours this morning at the age of 83 at his home in Marco Island, Florida.

Omar graced the airwaves of Channel 2 from the early 1950's to his retirement in 1996. He was elected to the inaugural class of the Dayton Broadcasters Hall Of Fame in 2003.
Click to expand...
 
I met Omar Williams at the Clark County Fair back in 1986 when Channel 2 did a live newscast from the Fair that year...Also got his autograph. Nice guy. Channel 7 briefly mentioned him on their 11 O'Clock sports Monday night...Mike Hartsock said they covered many sports together and that he was a class act. No mention that he worked for Channel 2 surprise surprise. I do remember when 2 forced him into retirement but I don't know the details. I'm sure someone reading this does...Please fill me in. Anyhow, Omar was a true legend. Newscasters that puts me in mind of that era are the legendary Don Wayne and Ed Krahling on Channel 7.
 
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