- Date Of Death: April 8, 2018
- State: Indiana
Joseph F. (Joe) McConnell, 79, born March 10, 1939 in Rochester, Indiana died April 8, 2018. Joe grew up in Goodland, Indiana Class of 1957, graduating from Franklin College in 1962. He began a life-long career as a broadcaster at Purdue (WBAA). He worked at WFAM-TV in Lafayette and WTHI AM-TV in Terre Haute before landing his first major league job with the Denver Broncos in following year, he moved to the Phoenix Suns and added the Minnesota Vikings in 1971, working three Super Bowl games. He returned to Indiana in 1973 to broadcast the Pacers on WIBC, calling the ABA Championship team in 1973-74. He became the voice of the Chicago Bears in 1977. He moved to the Twin Cities to broadcast the Minnesota Twins from 1978-79 before consolidating two jobs in Chicago as voice of the Bears and White Sox in 1980. He worked for three 50,000-watt stations in the Windy City (WMAQ, WBBM, and WGN AM-TV). During that busy time, he worked two split doubleheaders (football and baseball games in the same day). After the 1985 season, Joe returned to the Vikings for three more years.
Joe moved back to Indianapolis in 1987. He became the national voice of the Sears College Football Game of the Week and the NBA Radio Network for five years. He added two more NFL teams to his resume with the Colts (1992-94, WNDE) and the Tennessee Oilers (1997-98). He wrapped up his career at age 70 as voice of Purdue football (1995-2009).
Joe won many awards for his work over the years, but his most cherished honor was receiving the Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Mitch Daniels during his final game, a Purdue win at Indiana.
Joe is predeceased by his parents, Joseph W. and Josephine (Rowe) McConnell, and sister Judy.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Susan (Graves) McConnell. Also surviving are three children Colleen Lundy of Phoenix, Michael (Tracy) of Scottsdale, Kent (Tracy) of Honolulu; eight grandchildren Blake, Ciara and Brandon Lundy, Michael and Ashley McConnell, Matt, Ben, and Katie McConnell; two sister-in-laws Libby Graves (Sami Geadah) and Jill Graves; and niece Hana Geadah.
