THE Voice of the VOLS!

[TAF]

John Ward passed away seven years ago today.

 

[OffTackleVol]

John Ward passed away seven years ago today.

Dang, can't believe it's already been 7 years. My Granny always said, the older you get, the faster time goes by.......she was right.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I remember like it was yesterday. I tuned into Tony Basilio and listened to callers phone in for hours and talk about their favorite John Ward moments! Tony was on vacation with his family at the time, however he put all that on pause to get on the air and grieve with fans. I'll never forget that!

 

[OffTackleVol]

I remember like it was yesterday. I tuned into Tony Basilio and listened to callers phone in for hours and talk about their favorite John Ward moments! Tony was on vacation with his family at the time, however he put all that on pause to get on the air and grieve with fans. I'll never forget that!

Wife and I had just checked in to our hotel in Gatlinburg when we got the news. The first gift shop we walked in, the very first thing I saw was a "It's Football Time in Tennessee!" wooden sign. I told my wife that was too coincidental not to buy it. I did, and it's hanging in my carport.

 

[SpookyAction]

I began to pay attention to the VOLS and John Ward when UT v. Bama (#1) 1980 was ABC game of the week. My Daddy showed me a little secret and we listened to the game on the stereo while we watched it. I listened to Ward for two more seasons before I felt my 1st win v. Bama. I cannot even imagine loving the VOLS without John Ward telling the story of each game.

When I read the name of any VOL from 1980-1998, I hear their name in my head in John Ward's voice. I have missed him so long it feels like he passed away a longer time ago.

I think Mike Keith's will carry on our strong radio tradition.

 

[Big Orange Rob]

I can't listen to his voice without a tear coming to my eyes. He was the greatest. I have no doubt that there are thousands who were never able to attend a game in person, but became diehard UT fans as they experienced the thrill through his voice. RIP John.

 

[utvols74]

I listened until nearly midnight as John Ward announced the 1998 national championship game and after game radio talk show. I heard him sign off the last time for UT football after that game. I knew that a significant page in UT history had ended as I had listed to him since the 1970s. Back when UT was on TV perhaps once in the regular season, John Ward was everyone's pipeline into every UT game. His voice was unmistakable. He was amazing and everyone felt they "knew" him. I can still him trying to say "natural gas". Legend.

 

[dalton_vol]

I remember like it was yesterday. I tuned into Tony Basilio and listened to callers phone in for hours and talk about their favorite John Ward moments! Tony was on vacation with his family at the time, however he put all that on pause to get on the air and grieve with fans. I'll never forget that!

Say what you will about tony, he's all vol.

 

[VOLdo Raine]

The thing about it that will escape the younger fans, is that for those of us who were fans before the 90s, THIS is how we took in UT sports. If you couldn’t attend the games (the vast majority of fans),you might be able to watch the 2-3 games a year that were televised, but the rest you had to listen to on the radio. I remember sitting at home listening to the NotreDame game on the radio! John Ward painted incredible pictures in my head as I followed along. I love being able to see the action and don’t want to go back, but it’s still a good memory.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I can't listen to his voice without a tear coming to my eyes. He was the greatest. I have no doubt that there are thousands who were never able to attend a game in person, but became diehard UT fans as they experienced the thrill through his voice. RIP John.

Its crazy to think that sports announcing was John Ward's "side hustle". His main occupation was advertising.

 

[savannahfan]

I'm getting old, but that is not an excuse. Listening to the voice of Mr. Ward again after all these years sent a chill down the back of my neck and into my shoulders and then arms. As we get older good things from our past will do that to us. Not only that, but our kidneys seem to move up just behind our eyes and at times like this they tend to leak. (as mine are doing as I try to type). The only hope that guys like me have is that some day, if we are lucky, we will get to hear him once again up close and personal in the halls of all time sports angels.

 

[BruisedOrange]

I did not realize until a couple of years ago that my first football season following the Vols on radio as a kid, was also John Ward's first season calling their games. His was the only voice I ever knew for Tennessee sports. Coaches came and went, but through to the end of that National Championship season, for me, he was the audible expression of Pantone 151.

 

[Volador]

Any Volunteer fan who does not get choked up when they hear John Ward utter "It's Football Time in Tennessee" is just not, well, is just not a True Tennessee Volunteer.

Miss you John. Thanks for all the great memories!

 

[SDV]

There will never be another like him. A legend

 

[SAPPER 5]

Somewhere, I have 4 double-sided cassette tapes that I recorded of Mr. Ward and Bill Anderson calling the '98 Natty. Might have to dig them out, put the game on YouTube, and give it another listen on my day off.

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

I listened until nearly midnight as John Ward announced the 1998 national championship game and after game radio talk show. I heard him sign off the last time for UT football after that game. I knew that a significant page in UT history had ended as I had listed to him since the 1970s. Back when UT was on TV perhaps once in the regular season, John Ward was everyone's pipeline into every UT game. His voice was unmistakable. He was amazing and everyone felt they "knew" him. I can still him trying to say "natural gas". Legend.

My wife and I still talk like the British lady in those commercials whenever we listen to the Vol Network lol

 

[kyvol98]

Attended a then, VASF function, and John was sitting alone at a table. We asked if we could sit with him and he graciously said "Of course" then stood, extended his hand and said "Hi, I'm John Ward"
He was that type of humble gentleman. Found out my friend and I lived in KY and told as stories about his dear friend Cawood Ledford.
None better than John Ward.

 

[feathersax]

The thing about it that will escape the younger fans, is that for those of us who were fans before the 90s, THIS is how we took in UT sports. If you couldn’t attend the games (the vast majority of fans),you might be able to watch the 2-3 games a year that were televised, but the rest you had to listen to on the radio. I remember sitting at home listening to the NotreDame game on the radio! John Ward painted incredible pictures in my head as I followed along. I love being able to see the action and don’t want to go back, but it’s still a good memory.

JW was multi-talented: Voice of the Vols, successful ad agency, & even wrote the jingle for Lay's Meats along with Nashville recording guru Owen Bradley. Here's a photo of John & Barbara Ward from 1983.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

John Ward passed away seven years ago today.

Always get a tear in my eyes watching these clips with John ward true VFL…..

 

[Rocky Top T]

The best ever! But Mike Keith will come mighty close to him.