LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Las Vegas locals have lost Bob Blum, 91, a longtime sports broadcaster, Hall of Fame inductee and 51s special assistant to general manager.
The "godfather" of sports broadcasting in southern Nevada passed away on Sunday due to complications from hip surgery.
Blum was a member of the Las Vegas Stars and 51s front office staff for nearly three decades, also broadcasting games for the Pacific Coast League team in selected seasons from 1985 to 2005 and 2008 to 2010.
"Blumer was just a great guy and was the consummate peoples person," 51s Executive Director Don Logan said. "He was the grandfather, he got along with everyone he came into contact with and was a very generous person. He refused to let age get in the way of his everyday living. He loved to come to work at the ballpark, and everyone involved in the 51s front office and the Las Vegas community will miss him greatly."
Blum was born on Oct. 1, 1920, in South Bend, IN. After attending the University of Notre Dame, he served in the United States Air Force and moved to California following World War II where he spent 23 years of sports broadcasting for universities, the NFL Pro Bowls and National Football League franchises, including the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland A's and the San Diego Chargers.
After two decades of sports broadcasting in the Bay area, Blum arrived in Las Vegas in 1973, broadcasting UNLV Rebels football, basketball, baseball and was the voice of the Lady Rebels for 27 seasons. He was also the voice of Runnin' Rebel basketball when UNLV advanced to the school's first NCAA Final Four appearance in 1977.
In 2007, the local sports broadcaster was inducted into the southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2000 and Nevada Broadcast Association Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also honored at the All-American Football foundation banquet as its recipient of the Lindsay Nelson Sportscaster Award honoring individuals for lifetime achievement in the field of sports broadcasting.
Friends and family are arranging funeral services.
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Bob Blum dies at 91
