Remembering Long-Time PA Announcer J Fred Duckett

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In the days following the passing of J Fred Duckett, family, friends and co-workers offered their thoughts and memories of him on a special web guest book.

Riva Rahl Graeme (Dallas): It was always amazing to me how J Fred knew details of every athlete, whether an All-American, out-of-town competitor, or up and coming high-schooler. I remember his comments helping make more than one 10,000 meter race go by a little bit more quickly!

William (Houston): J Fred always made me feel like there was a fan up there in the booth, someone who loved what he was doing and loved being able to tell me something about whatever it was we were watching....we will miss you

Kevin Walters: We will miss your voice J Fred, but your spirit is going to be at Rice Stadium and at every track in this city

Dwayne (Orlando): J Fred was one of the first to welcome me into the Rice Athletics family, and one of the first to wish me well when I left. I know of few that loved Rice as much as he, and he will be missed sorely. Thanks, for everything J Fred!

Todd (Arlington): I remember first meeting J Fred when I was an intern with the Rice sports information office in the mid-1990s. We worked several track and field meets together over the years. I was always amazed at his preparation and insight. It was hard to come up with something he did not already know, but he helped me do my job better, not just at Rice, but also in my days since leaving, too. His humor helped those long days at the track stadium seem not quite so long. I had kept in touch with him since I left South Main but did not realize how poor in health he was. Rice has lost a great ambassador. I know he missed Baudine and those two are together again. We will miss you J Fred. Thank you for everything.

Mark Sanders (Missouri City): 'Howdy Bub' - I'm sure those were the first words that greeted J. Fred today in his final resting place. J. Fred gave so much of himself to his love of sports and educating young people. The city of Houston, Rice University, Awty International and track and field has lost a real giant.

Chris Burkhalter (Sugar Land): As much as J. Fred was intertwined in Rice Athletics, he also helped us tremendously over here at UH. When you think indoor and outdoor collegiate track and field, it is impossible to think about it without J. Fred. I had the honor of sitting with him for many, many indoor track meets. He could whip out lane assignments, national rankings, high school stats, and what was the best restaurant in Vienna all in one breath. He was one of a kind and "Neat." Track at UH will never be the same.

Amanda (Kemah): As a former Asst. SID at Rice, I often dreaded sitting outside in the heat and long days that were outdoor track meets? but J. Fred made it so much easier to bear. He always had a witty comment, could tell you the mascot of any high school in Texas, and knew the personal best marks / times / etc. of each athlete on the track, without missing a beat. He was an amazing supporter of Rice athletics, and he will be missed by our family. God Bless you, J. Fred!

Kelly Shumaker Kling (Iwakuni Japan): I saw JFred a few years ago and was still amazed at his ability to remember every athlete, even if he hadn't seen you in a decade! He touched so many lives in so many ways. My memories of my years on the Rice track team would not be complete without the distinctive sound of his voice announcing my name before a race. It's funny how things like that stick with you and last a lifetime. May you rest in peace, JFred.

Stan Barber (Houston): I have had the privilege of working with J. Fred at Rice Stadium since the time I was a undergraduate at Rice in the '70s. Although I didn't see him as regularly this last year (because the message center control room is no longer in the press box), I looked forward to him saying "It's a great day for outdoor football." I will miss that very much.

Chip Matthews (Montgomery): J Fred will be hugely missed, not only by me but by all the members of my family, from my mother to my son. What a truly wonderful and amazing man.

Chip Matthews (Montgomery): To William from Houston: As someone who sat next to Fred in the booth for many years, I can assure you that you were right... he was a fan, and much more.

David Dalati (Houston): I will always remember the lending hand of advice and/or support you often gave to a young, inexperienced reporter in Houston in the 80's.Thank you.

Chuck Pool (Pearland): I first met J Fred in the Press Center for the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. When I moved to Houston, he called to welcome me and as we worked in the press box at the Astrodome, each game would always start with a booming voice saying ?Good evening, Chuckling? as he walked to his spot in the scoreboard control room. When I took the job at Rice, he was the first person to call me, seemingly as soon as I sat down in the chair and welcomed me to the Rice family. To see the pride on his face as he sat in the press box of the Superdome, gazing down on Rice?s first bowl game since 1961, is a memory that will stay with me always. Rest in Peace, J Fred. It was an honor to know you.

Patty (Houston): As an undergrad and grad student at Texas, every spring I heard a booming voice echoing across campus that signaled the start of the Texas Relays. In 1997, I came to work at Rice and met the source of that distinct voice? it came from a kind man who loved his alma mater and always had a smile to share. I have had the great pleasure of working with J. Fred the past 10 years and share with him in the triumphs of his beloved Owls. Rice Stadium and Rice Track/Soccer Stadium won?t be the same without you my friend.

Mitch Istre (Houston): I got to know J. Fred a little when I would visit with him during Quarterback Club meetings in the early 90's. I will always appreciate the fact that he would visit with me for as long as I wanted even though I was just another Rice fan. I still will hear "Jose CRUUUUUUUUUUUUZ!" and "It's a beee-uuuu-teee-ful day for OUTDOOR football" for as long as I live.

Bruce Baker Houston: What an amazing voice and so creative on the fly. He was (is) an institution. I hope he is announcing in heaven. I remember him as a source of track information during the 70's in my school days at Rice where I attempted to write about sports for the campus paper. I knew very little about track but it was his first love and it was contagious.

Ted Nance (Michigan): I am very sorry to hear about J Fred. He was a good guy and a true Owl. I got to know him better during my SWC and Bluebonnet days, but I first met J Fred in 1954 while I was a student at UH. I'm sure he was the only one in Houston who did the public address announcing for Rice, some UH events, the bowl game, the Astros, the Oilers and probably more. I hired him to do the announcing for an indoor track meet we sponsored downtown at the old Sam Houston Coliseum. He always told that story because the guy he replaced as the announcer was Dan Rather. I had Rather do it the previous year, but he had moved on to CBS by the next year, so J Fred took his spot.

Pencil - Houston.: A great, big guy. Erudite and eloquent; could discuss any aspect of history or athletics; A unique fellow. I will miss him.

Clyde Neff (Lubbock): J Fred was truly a man who understood what it was to serve. I found him always helping someone, espeically those that others would overlook. He was a great mentor to me and it was an honor to host he and his wife in our home as they traveled the country. Thank you J Fred for all that you have done. You will not be forgotten my friend.

Paul Darst (Houston): J. Fred?s big booming voice announced his presence long before he would enter a room. It seemed to echo even more resoundingly off the glass inside the small confined space of the Astrodome scoreboard booth we shared so many years at the Astrodome. Once inside anyone and everyone was met with his trademark ?Howdy Bub?. J. Fred made a big impression on all us who have been ?in the business?. Whether they realize it or not, he also touched most sports fans in Houston and the Southwest?after all, what sporting event did he not do PA for at one time or another over the past 40-50 years? An All-Star and Hall of Famer if there ever was one in my book!

Bob Zell (Miami, FL): Although I actually only met J. Fred a few times, he always treated me as if we were friends forever. The athletic world will truly miss an outstanding human being. J. Fred?we love you.

Announcer Dave (Bellaire): "It's a beautiful evening for outdoor football!" Thanks for the memories J. Fred, we'll save you a seat on the 50 yard line.

Petra ( Fred's daughter): Thank you to all of you for your tributes. He was awesome in my eyes, but as his child I am biased. I'm overwhelmed by how others feel.

Petra and Sean: Thanks for the tributes. We are truly touched and overwhelmed. Dad would be deeply honored.

Tom: There will be a void in this city that will never be filled. His voice echoes in my mind at all the events that I've attended.

Jay (Houston): Rest in peace, J. Fred. I can not imagine Rice sports without you. When we get to heaven, I have no doubt that you will be announcing the games.

John Royal (Webster): It was an honor to work at Astros game with J. Fred. And J. Fred, I'm sorry about all of the Rice jokes that I used to make.

Jack Shepard (Westminster, CA): J. Fred and I were having lunch in a Chicago hotel in 1988 before going out to the stadium to work the International Prep HS meet. Now J. Fred was never consciously loud, but it was hard to keep that big voice of his from filling the room. As we chatted, a man dressed in a Chicago Cubs T-shirt came up and said "Say it! Say it!" The man didn't know J. Fred from Adam, but he had heard that voice over the radio during Cub-Astro games from the Astrodome and had heard it again in that restaurant. So Fred shouted his famous Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuz line. And I was surprised that no one seemed offended by that outburst and how many people seemed to know what it meant, coming over to chat with him afterwards.

Mickey Trichel (Alexandria, VA): Following his graduation from Rice, Fred was a Fulbright scholar at the University of Utrecht in Nederland. While there, he became close friends with the family of his roommate in Apeldoorn and became affiliated with the Hoge Burgher's School there. Later, when he was on the faculty at St. John's School in Houston, he selected an exchange student, Helena (Leny) Meijer (later my wife), from that school for St. John's. Years later, I repaid the favor by finding Baudine , with whom he had lost contact, for him

Guohua (Houston): We will miss you greatly, Baudine and Fred. -- Guohua, Fengmei, Michael, Angela

Billy Siems, Missouri City: J.Fred was a friend and a mentor. I will always cherish the times I spent with him. God Speed J. Fred

David Courtney (LA/OC, CA): I have been privelaged to be tutored by, and work with, two of the best people in the business of sports announcing -- John Ramsey in Los Angeles and J. Fred in Houston. When I moved to Houston in 1978, he welcomed me to Houston Sports Broadcasters Association and basically kept that organization running for years even though he wasn't a full-time sports caster. He allowed my the privelage of filling in for him at Rice events and eventually shared the Astros with me until I returned to L.A. In the meantime he was a friend, confidant and gentleman. How ironic that the Astros came to So. Calif. this past week and I announced them against my Angels. J. Fred came to mind many times. My condolences to his family and friends.

Scott Davis (Cerritos, CA): I announced many big meets with J. Fred, includNational Championships. I stayed at J. Fred's house during the 89 USA meet in Houston. He loved cats, as do I, and his big male (all 22 pounds of him) decided that I was a good sleeping partner at night. He stayed with me for 4 nights during that competition! I will miss you dearly J. Fred. Man, we had some fun times, didn't we?

Margaret Wilson Reckling: When i was a young girl running track at St. John's School, Fred was always so kind and supportive of me. I will never forget his presence at so many of the events and especially at the Texas Relays. Thank you Fred.

Steve Baldwin (Houston): I came to Rice as a Track athlete much because of J Fred? s influence with the coaching staff at Rice. For that alone I owe J Fred a huge debt of gratitude! That was the start of an appreciation for Mr J Fred Duckett. One notable hot Texas Relays, he saw me at the final curve of the 400m and with his booming voice said, ?and here comes Steve Baldwin on the outside, ladies and gentleman he is flying!? If that doesn?t fire you up to do your best - to me it was someone announce their belief in you to a big crowd. I bet those kids he taught and coached at St Johns and at Awty felt the same way. We all need people we respect to believe in us. And now J Fred has run his race and is beyond the homestretch ? he is HOME. God Bless You J Fred!

Jim Bevan (Houston): J. Fred and Baudine opened their house for me when I first moved to Houston. I was always welcome at any time. He became a mentor, friend and sounding board. There is so much more that I would love to ask him. They were always kind, welcoming and warm. J. Fred had a big, big heart! They opened their house to numerous international students over the years. They were their surrogate parents and remained so for the rest of their lives. After observing and listening to so many people, it is amazing how profound the impact of one human being can have on so many. It should inspire us all. Thank you J. Fred for all of your energy, wit, charisma, wisdom and most of all for your heart!

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