An award-winning broadcaster, who was the distinctive voice of Michigan Wolverines football for decades and also called games for top professional teams including the Detroit Lions has died at the age of 72. Recently, he had retired from broadcasting.
WJR-AM, the Detroit-based “Voice of the Great Lakes”, where Beckmann spent most of his career, reported Sunday that he suffered from vascular dementia, a rare brain disease, and had also suffered strokes. It reported that he died Saturday at a hospice center in Clarkston, Michigan.
Beckmann started at WJR in the early 1970s and was, at the time, the newsroom’s youngest-ever reporter. Within several years, he became WJR’s sports director. At various times, Beckmann served as announcer for both for Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions games. He also called Pistons and Red Wings games.
“I recall when he began as a talk-show host and wondered if he would succeed coming from a sports-centered background. But, he sure surprised me! He was always prepared when he went on air and never held back. I’ve already missed him,” said Glen Wunderlich.
Frank is survived by his wife, Karen, two children and three grandchildren.
