Beloved sports announcer Bob Witham has been part of Windham High School athletics for 40 years. Whether it be the soccer field, basketball court or softball field, Witham’s voice over the sound system meant players and spectators were in for something special. He loves the town, the athletes and did right by them. That love was reciprocated when Witham announced his final basketball game at Windham High on Thursday, Feb. 5.
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| Windham sports announcer Bob Witham gives a heartfelt speech as he expresses his appreciation to the town of Windham as they congratulate him for his 40 years of service as the voice of Windham High School athletics. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
Sports have always been a part of Witham’s life. Most of his uncles were athletes and his mother played badminton. Witham graduated from Deering High in 1966 where he was co-captain for the track and football teams. He ran track at the Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield. After that he attended the University of Maine Orono where he majored in economics while also running track. He married his wife Karen during his junior year of college. In his final year of college, he transferred to the University of Southern Maine where he assisted Track Coach John Cassavola.
“It was a dream come true (the first time Bob announced my name),” said Windham senior AJ Moody. “Being on a varsity team my freshman year and him announcing my name was something I wanted to hear. The guy’s got a beautiful voice – I could not ask for a better person to say my name at my games; he’s a great dude. We’ve a closeknit team and he’s definitely a part of it and not just from an announcing standpoint, but what he’s done for this community.”
Tyrie James, a Windham senior, said the team doesn’t think of Witham as an announcer, they think of him as family, the way he treats them. It’s exciting because they know the impact he’s made through his whole career here.
Witham worked for Nappi Distributors as a traveling wine salesman for 38 years. At no point did Witham ever think he would have a 40-year career announcing Windham High sports as well as many other events.
In 1984 he announced a softball game for his oldest daughter, Amy. He continued announcing games all over Windham for his other two daughters Marcy and Laurie.
He began announcing basketball games at Windham in 1986. He also announced soccer games as both Marcy and Laurie are championship winners. Later on, he would announce WHS softball games.
“Mr. Witham ... truly brings a level of professionalism and excitement that makes Windham athletic games second to none,” said Windham varsity softball coach Darcey Gardiner. “He makes our athletes feel important and creates a game atmosphere that sets a high bar for the level of competition about to take place. Beyond the microphone, you can tell how invested he is in our student-athletes and always makes sure that our team knows he is supporting us near or far.”
From that point on, word spread fast about his talent and he announced everything from WHS homecoming games to Windham Summerfest to graduations to games at Saint Joseph’s College back when they had the Chamber of Horrors and 500 people felt like 3,000.
Saint Joseph’s College men’s basketball coach Rick Simonds approached Witham in 1988 about announcing. Witham had gone to a game to watch player Jeff Creech and was not impressed with their announcer. Simonds gave Witham the chance to do better and he then announced for Saint Joseph’s College for 15 years; during this time, he was also announcing for Windham High School.
“I have worked with Bob for 26 wonderful years,” said Windham timekeeper Dennis Dubay. “When I first started, I was very nervous doing a varsity game, but he made me feel right at home never treated like the new guy he made me feel like I belonged there. It’s been a great working with him and ... the town of Windham is one of the luckiest towns in the state to have had the honor of Witham announcing games for 40 years.”
What Witham said he will miss most about announcing is the community, coming to the gym and talking with people at halftime. He said he has a strange voice that people enjoy listening to.
He says he would like to thank the town of Windham for allowing him to live a dream he’s had for all these years. It’s been a thrill and he can’t thank the town enough for allowing him to have the best seat in the house.
“I remember sitting in the stands as a kid listening to him and dreaming of the day, I would hear my name called over the loudspeaker,” said Windham alumni and basketball coach Chad Pulkkinen. “Years later, that same voice announced me as a varsity player, then again in college at Saint Joseph’s, and eventually as a coach. Very few people get to be part of a community’s story for that long, and Bob did it with pride, professionalism, and consistency. He made every game feel important and every moment feel special, and in doing so helped elevate Windham athletics as a whole. Bob gave Windham athletics his time, his passion, and his pride for decades and that kind of dedication does not happen by accident.”
Witham’s daughter Amy Cunniffe said she believes he has had such an impact on all the kids. His voice makes things bigger; when she goes to an event, it feels like home.
Windham resident Gina Kostopoulos said being a PA announcer isn’t about names and numbers and he didn’t just announce the athletes, he saw them. He made kids feel important, proud, and recognized in ways that will stay with them far longer than any final score.
WHS graduate and Windham resident Lexi Hirning said Bob Witham brought genuine care and enthusiasm to every game, always highlighting not just the score, but the effort and pride of the athletes and teams. As a player, hearing Bob as the announcer made every moment feel special and meaningful, she said.
“I’ve been the luckiest guy in the world,” said Witham. “To do something you absolutely love doing; to get to announce your own children and I got to announce four out of the six grandchildren ... it touches my heart, I love doing it. Meeting all these families, the thousands of kids I must have announced. AJ, wonderful kid, wonderful family, but I got to announce Pat when he was in high school. The legacy goes on and on and on. Meeting his family and all the other families has been a thrill for me.”
Witham will announce his final season of Windham varsity softball this spring before retiring. <
