Claude Sullivan

[cumberlandredskin]

Here is a good article about Claude Sullivan. His children are trying perserve his legacy. I learned a lot of interesting things about him. I didn't know he was so young (42) when he died. Can anyone share some memories about him?

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/fans/14300146.htm

[Wildcat Larry]

Great story. I remember Claude Sullivan very well and new his son David, during high school (even though he went to our dreaded rival, Lafayette .... I'm a Henry Clay Blue Devil). Thanks for posting this as it brings back a lot of memories.

[Jeff Craddock]

Great article. I also remember Claude Sullivan well and remember how sad we all were when he died. In fact, my grandfather--the man who introduced me to the Cats--always listened to his broadcasts, as he believed that Claude was the best of a very talented bunch. Anyone remember Earl Boardman? He was yet another broadcaster back in the "golden age" of UK broadcasts.

[Wildcat Larry]

Yep, I'm that old, too. I remember Earl Boardman more because he went to my church instead of for being a UK play-by-play man. He was instrumental in the getting our church services on WLEX-TV on Sunday mornings.

What station did Boardman broadcast for? Did he do the broadcast on the campus radio station or am I just having a senior moment, here?

[JPS]

cumberlandredskin wrote:
Here is a good article about Claude Sullivan. His children are trying perserve his legacy. I learned a lot of interesting things about him. I didn't know he was so young (42) when he died. Can anyone share some memories about him?


I thought the article was very interesting. Especially the idea that they'd like to make his work available to people. To me, that's great. This would IMO be something that the UK Athletic Department or the school itself should get behind and support.

FWIW, there's a huge market IMO for Kentucky memorabilia. I think that making it easily available to a lot of people is a good thing for all concerned. It allows people to relive and learn about UK's history and it increases awareness and support for the current programs. I think that there's a lot of UK fans who would be willing to pay a reasonable fee to access old audio and films.

Let's hope that this idea takes off, and leads to bigger and better things. :)

Jon

PS, In the article, they mentioned the audio tape which made its way around the internet with Rupp and Sullivan after the 1966 Texas Western game. For anyone interested in hearing that, I have it available (along with a transcript) at the following page.

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/1966twaudioclip.html

[Jeff Craddock]

Wildcat Larry wrote: Yep, I'm that old, too. I remember Earl Boardman more because he went to my church instead of for being a UK play-by-play man. He was instrumental in the getting our church services on WLEX-TV on Sunday mornings.

What station did Boardman broadcast for? Did he do the broadcast on the campus radio station or am I just having a senior moment, here?


Larry, I'm not sure which station. My memory may be playing tricks on me, but I'm pretty sure I heard him do some broadcasts. I "googled" his name a couple months ago and couldn't find a thing.

[gerntz]

Claude Sullivan was the only UK announcer I knew growing up in NKY & listening to him with the Reds too. Never heard of Cawood till after his passing even though I was at UK then.

[Wildcat Larry]

Jeff Craddock wrote: Wildcat Larry wrote: Yep, I'm that old, too. I remember Earl Boardman more because he went to my church instead of for being a UK play-by-play man. He was instrumental in the getting our church services on WLEX-TV on Sunday mornings.

What station did Boardman broadcast for? Did he do the broadcast on the campus radio station or am I just having a senior moment, here?


Larry, I'm not sure which station. My memory may be playing tricks on me, but I'm pretty sure I heard him do some broadcasts. I "googled" his name a couple months ago and couldn't find a thing.

The only thing that I can find on the internet is an Earl Boardman from Lexington buried in the Camp Nelson Cemetary in Jessamine County. The birth date is 1930 with the death date of January 25, 1998. I'm guessing that's the Earl Boardman that we are talking about.

[Blue4ever]

Jeff Craddock wrote: Great article. I also remember Claude Sullivan well and remember how sad we all were when he died. In fact, my grandfather--the man who introduced me to the Cats--always listened to his broadcasts, as he believed that Claude was the best of a very talented bunch. Anyone remember Earl Boardman? He was yet another broadcaster back in the "golden age" of UK broadcasts.


I've talked to several older fans (including my father) who've said that Claude was better than Cawood. If you listen to the Rupp interview with Sullivan after the Texas Western game Rupp says something about coming up and doing a Red's game with Sullivan. So I guess Sullivan also did Reds games.

Listening to Sullivan you can tell he had great talent and if he hadn't died so young probably would have gone down as a hall of fame announcer.

[Lost Highway]

Blue4ever wrote: Jeff Craddock wrote: Great article. I also remember Claude Sullivan well and remember how sad we all were when he died. In fact, my grandfather--the man who introduced me to the Cats--always listened to his broadcasts, as he believed that Claude was the best of a very talented bunch. Anyone remember Earl Boardman? He was yet another broadcaster back in the "golden age" of UK broadcasts.


I've talked to several older fans (including my father) who've said that Claude was better than Cawood. If you listen to the Rupp interview with Sullivan after the Texas Western game Rupp says something about coming up and doing a Red's game with Sullivan. So I guess Sullivan also did Reds games.

Listening to Sullivan you can tell he had great talent and if he hadn't died so young probably would have gone down as a hall of fame announcer.




I agree with your father. Claude is the one I listened to when I was a UK student. Here is a photo of the great one.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a339/LukeTheDrifter1900/Claude.jpg