Frank Beckmann

Frank Beckmann (born November 3, 1949) is an American broadcaster who is currently a talk radio host on WJR in Detroit, Michigan. He also was the radio play-by-play announcer for University of Michigan football from 1981 to 2013. Beckmann was awarded the Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Northwood University in May 2012.

Frank Beckmann
Beckmann at the University of Michigan's Victors Classic alumni football game in 2012.
Born (1949-11-03) November 3, 1949
Germany
OccupationBroadcaster
Years active1969–present

Early life

Beckmann was born in Germany.[1] He grew up and spent his early childhood in northeast Detroit, and he later attended Cousino High School in Warren, Michigan. When he was a teen, his family moved to Warren so that Beckmann could attend a school that had a student radio station.[2]

Broadcast career

Beckmann was the radio play-by-play announcer for University of Michigan football from 1981 (when he succeeded Bob Ufer in the role) to 2013,[3] and has hosted a daily weekday talk show on WJR in Detroit since 2004.[4] Beckmann, who began his sportscasting career in 1969, was also an announcer for the Detroit Lions (1979-1988) and Detroit Tigers (1995-2003) and served as WJR's sports director for several years. He also hosted Sportswrap, one of the first all-sports talk shows in the nation, on WJR in the early 1980s.

He has been honored with "Top Michigan Sportscaster" awards by the Associated Press and United Press International and "Michigan Sportscaster of the Year" by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Beckmann won the 2010 Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting and received the award in a special halftime press box ceremony at the University of Michigan football stadium. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 for his accomplishments in sports broadcasting.[5][6]

Beckmann told his listeners on January 13, 2021, that he will retire on March 26, 2021.[7]

Political activism

In 2011, Beckmann considered a campaign for the United States Senate seat occupied by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, but said that the need to register as a Republican and quit his broadcasting positions made him decide against a candidacy.[8][9]

References
  1. "Frank Beckmann - Michigan Sports Hall of Fame". Michigan Sports Hall of Fale. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. Horning, Bob (November 29, 2013). "Frank Beckmann contemplates last game as radio voice of Michigan Football". Ann Arbor News. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  3. Frank Beckmann contemplates last game as radio voice of Michigan Football
  4. On Air - Frank Beckmann
  5. "About Frank Beckmann". Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  6. "Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Archive". Archived from the original on 2013-07-09. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  7. https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/television/2021/01/13/frank-beckmann-retiring-march-wjr-talk-host/6653769002/
  8. It's a no: Detroit media personality Frank Beckmann will not challenge Debbie Stabenow
  9. "Beckmann Passes On Stabenow Challenge". Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
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