The RoundHouse | 4/29/2020 1:56:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
A good arena announcer becomes part of the game, without hogging the spotlight or missing the moment.
For 36 years, Don Hall provided the narration for Wichita State men's basketball games with his voice a constant part of the experience.
He delighted in hometown introductions – calling "from right here in Wichita, Kansas," for Shockers such as
Samajae Haynes-Jones. He started games by exhorting fans to "put your hands together." He elongated "Shockerrr" before the crowd finished with "threeee" and occasionally slipped in ad-libs during timeout promotions.
"He knew the team so well," said Mercy Crisp, a former neighbor of Hall's and a basketball season ticket-holder for 42 years. "He's just an indelible part of the university. Don Hall never, ever missed a beat. You just knew he was always there and he was correct and he was professional."
Hall, 70, died Wednesday morning in a car accident, according to multiple reports, at Kellogg and Rock. He was on his way to his morning radio show on KEYN at Entercom Communications offices at 9111 E. Douglas.
Hall was also a long-time radio personality in Wichita, active in charity work and handled public address duties for other sports, such as indoor football.
He followed sports closely and loved filling in co-workers on the day's headlines and recapping Jim Rome's radio show. Before games, he was a friendly, outgoing presence in the media room and courtside, always talking about the Shockers and always upbeat.
Hall became the arena basketball voice in 1983-84 and Shocker fans listened to him introduce greats such as Xavier McDaniel, Aubrey Sherrod, Ron Baker, Cleanthony Early and more. He was there to describe their baskets, their spot in the starting lineup and their senior farewells.
"I can't imagine Koch Arena having the same feel," said Craig Steven, who played for the Shockers from 1998-2003. "One of the first guys there. He always came in through the tunnel. Same route. Smile on his face. Same great guy every time. I remember his smile and he always had a great attitude."
Hall missed two games during his tenure as the PA announcer. Ted Woodward, also a morning personality with Entercom, worked at the same radio company as Hall for 25 years. When Hall missed those games, Woodward filled in.
"I'll remember that people told me 'You didn't do the three-pointers right,'" Woodward said. "Every announcer has their phrases and their hooks. Don's were a fixture."
Woodward, who handles PA duties for Shocker volleyball and baseball, pointed to Hall's consistency as a hallmark.
"You don't want the Barnum & Bailey circus some nights and depression other nights," he said. "He was such a dependable guy that you knew was going to be there night in and night out. You were getting the professionalism. That's part of everybody's experience at Koch Arena."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
