Oklahoma Sooners Legendary Play-by-Play Man Bob Barry Sr. Dead at 80

The Sooner family is mourning a huge loss today with the death of their long time broadcaster and play-by-play voice Bob Barry Sr.

Barry enjoyed a 50-year broadcasting career that also included a stretch as the radio voice for the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 1973-1990.

Simply known in Oklahoma as "The Legend," Barry was well known for his radio voice, but was perhaps more well known for making his way into the homes of Oklahomans for many years as the sports director at KFOR, a local NBC affiliate in Oklahoma City.

Barry was chosen to be the Sooners radio voice by legendary Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson in 1961. After stints with OU and OSU, Barry had the chance to call the seasons of some of college sports greatest athletes, including Blake Griffin, Barry Sanders, Sam Bradford, Steve Owens and Thurman Thomas.

I grew up listening to Bob Barry Sr. on the radio. In the 1990's the Sooners were on probation for a long period of time and were not seen much on television. Therefore, I became very familiar with the legendary voice and learned most of what I know about Oklahoma football from the legend.

His unique way of calling an Oklahoma touchdown by yelling "Touchdown Oklahoma" in his boisterous, yet warming father-like voice would always give me chills. He had the ability to shine on the radio during both football and basketball games. A talent that is far too often underrated.

The loss of Barry comes at a time when the Sooner family was already mourning the losses of former All-American Lee Roy Selmon and star linebacker Austin Box who both passed in recent months.

Bob Barry Sr. will be truly missed and has set the standard by which all play-by-play announcers will be judged in Oklahoma.