Gene Honda
Honda at the Allstate Arena in 2010

Eugene "Gene" Honda is a public address announcer for the Chicago White Sox (starting in 1985, full-time since 1991),[1] Chicago Blackhawks (succeeding Harvey Wittenberg since the 2001–02 season),[2] DePaul Blue Demons basketball, Big Ten tournament, Illinois Fighting Illini football (since 2012),[3] and the NCAA Final Four (since 2010).[4] He is also a constant voice on Chicago's PBS station WTTW Channel 11, the Big Ten Network, and the Chicago Marathon. He formerly worked for radio station WLAK (now WLIT) in Chicago.[5] Honda was the PA announcer for the 2009 NHL Winter Classic on January 1 at Wrigley Field. Additionally, he was the PA announcer for the 2012 Frozen Four at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.[6]

Honda is the only person to have announced at the MLB World Series, MLB All Star Game, NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, NCAA Final Four, NCAA Frozen Four.[7]

Honda was born and raised on Chicago's north side to Japanese American parents.[7] He attended Senn High School and graduated in 1972.[7] He later attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he studied engineering, finance, and broadcasting.[8] Honda spent the next 18 years working at the University of Illinois' radio station, WPGU.[8] Honda's interest in broadcasting was sparked by his father, who wanted his son to improve his public speaking skills.[7][8]

Honda appeared briefly in the 1990 film Opportunity Knocks as Mr. Nimoku.[9]

Honda also is a teacher for the After School Matters (ASM) Sports Broadcasting program at Curie High School.[8]

On October 11, 2008, Honda was inducted into the Illini Media Alumni Hall of Fame.[10]


References

  1. ↑ "P.A announcer Gene Honda the busiest man in Chicago sports". 22 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Honda in, Wittenberg out as Hawks' announcer," Chicago Tribune, Saturday, September 8, 2001. Retrieved December 4, 2018
  3. ↑ "FIGHTINGILLINI.COM - Illini Nation: We Heard You!". www.fightingillini.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-25.
  4. ↑ "P.A announcer Gene Honda the busiest man in Chicago sports". 22 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "City of Chicago: Gene Honda". City of Chicago.org. Archived from the original on 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  6. ↑ "The Voice: The man behind the mic". USCHO. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Halligan, Shannon (May 19, 2023). "Gene Honda: One of the only Asian American PA announcers in professional sports". WGN-TV. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Carroll, Charlotte (December 6, 2016). "Behind the voice: Gene Honda looks back to the start". The Daily Illini. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ "DigiGuide Library: Gene Honda". Digi Guide.com. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  10. ↑ Donahue, Kit (July 15, 2008). "2008 Hall of Fame class announced". Illini Media. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
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