Longtime Windham High sports announcer to hang up microphone after 40 years on job

By Matt Pascarella

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.

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    

“I just loved ... announcing,” said Witham. “I loved the crowd involvement, I loved the community, everything worked out so well and people seemed to like what I was doing ... 40 years go by and here we are. I’ll be 78 this month and it’s been a good run and 40 years seemed like a good spot to end it on. I hate to do it, but my wife and I will get to travel a little bit more – it’ll be good.”

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. <

Windham Police Department bids a fond farewell to retiring Captain Bill Andrew

Captain Bill Andrew, a 1992 Windham High School
graduate, became a Windham Police Department 
officer in 1996. He credits his long career in
law enforcement to the many mentors who inspired
and encouraged him throughout his youth. Andrew
is retiring and his last day at the Windham Police
Department is Friday, Sept. 16.
PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK   

By Lorraine Glowczak

After 29 years of serving and protecting the citizens of Windham, Captain William (Bill) Andrew will provide his final ‘end of shift’ signoff with the Windham Police Department (WPD) on Friday, Sept. 16, at 3 pm. Andrew, who is retiring from law enforcement to pursue a new career as a Project Manager for Tyler Technologies, says people in Windham haven’t seen the last of him as he will still be an active member in the community he loves and calls home.

“Windham is a wonderful place to live and work,” he said. “The community has strongly supported the police department and public safety. Although the larger society’s perception and support of law enforcement have become divided over the years, the Windham community has remained incredibly united in its support. I have always appreciated that.”

A 1992 Windham High School graduate, Andrew began his career in the public safety field while attending high school, participating in the Junior Firefighter Program. Upon graduation, he began working as a dispatcher for the WPD and worked in that position for three years. In 1996, he decided to become a police officer and attended the Maine State Justice (Police) Academy.

Upon becoming one of WPD’s finest, Andrew quickly moved up the ranks of law enforcement; first becoming a Sargent of Patrol in 2007, an Administrative Sergeant in 2015, a Patrol Captain in 2017, and, in his latest - and last role, a Support Services Captain in 2020.

Andrew said that he has enjoyed all his work at WPD and loves many aspects of his career. However, he shares one of his favorite experiences.

“By far, the best part of my career was starting up the canine unit at WPD,” he said. “I had the vision of creating a canine program while working in dispatch. Once I became an officer, the first thing I wanted to do is to implement that program and I worked hard to make it happen.” 

Andrew explained why he understood and then pursued the need for a canine program.

“As a dispatcher, I observed many individuals in crisis and how each emergency was handled,” he said. “In circumstances where we needed to calm people, we reached out to find a dog from other police departments to help subside the anxiety-filled situation. I witnessed over and over again that having a dog present often diffused the apprehension at the scene so the police could do their job effectively while also offering a positive, safe service to the individual.”

When Andrew developed the program, it was presented to Windham’s Town Council. The canine program was voted upon and approved in 2000. It is still an integral part of the WPD services today.

There are many reasons why having a canine unit is vital as part of a law enforcement agency.

“It breaks down any barriers that often occur while dealing with people in stressful situations,” he said. “Everyone has a story about their dog growing up or the pets they have now, and these stories create a commonality between the public and the police. It is a calming tool when people are dealing with tragedies.”

Andrew credits his long career in the ‘serve and protect’ occupation to the many mentors who have inspired and encouraged him throughout his youth.

“I have so many people to thank for their guidance and support as I explored a career in law enforcement,” Andrew said. “First, I must credit WPD’s former Chief Hammond. He was my first introduction to this career because I used to go on calls with him and former firefighter Ernie Nichols.”

Andrew said that while growing up in Windham, he had a childhood friend whose father, Greg Hanscom, was a WPD Police Chief. 

“Greg was the first police chief in 1976,” Andrew said. “His son and I spent a lot of time together while attending Field Allen School [the current Windham Middle School]. Getting a first-hand look at this man I admired, I knew I wanted to grow up to be like him.”

Captain Andrew’s contributions to the community have not gone unnoticed. He has worked in various capacities, including the role as a leadership team member with Be the Influence Coalition, an organization that raises awareness and addresses concerns caused by substance misuse in youth and educates about and prevents substance use disorder as one becomes an adult.

Laura Morris, the Director of Be the Influence, shares her praises of Andrew.“I cannot thank Bill Andrew enough for helping to create and make Be the Influence a reality, but also serving on our leadership committee,” Morris said. “Bill provided wisdom, passion, expertise and vision. He helped us to grow in the past six years to make a difference in the lives of our youth, parents and community. BTI will miss him and his guidance.”

WPD Chief Kevin Schofield echoed Morris’ sentiments.

“We most certainly appreciate all his work for the department and dedication to the town,” Chief Schofield said. “In over 36 years in this business, Bill has demonstrated the most dedication to this town and to the department that I’ve ever seen. We will miss him greatly, but we are happy that he will stay in the area and be a part of the department as a retiree moving forward.”

Morris shares the WPD and community’s thoughts about Captain Andrew as an individual.

“He is simply a wonderful person all the way around. We wish him the best as he goes about his new adventure.” <