May 5, 2008

Former broadcaster Omar Williams passed away on Saturday, May 3. Williams, who was a longtime sports director at WDTN in Dayton, also served as a broadcaster for Miami University Athletics spanning three decades. He served as the voice of Miami football and basketball beginning in the 1970s and running through the 1992 football season.

"Anybody he touched as far as athletes and coaches all had the highest respect for Omar. Because he was a well-known TV broadcaster, to lend his reputation to being the Voice of the Redskins, lent a lot of credibility to the broadcast," said former Miami Sports Information Director Dave Young. "He had a knack for making people feel as if they were part of the experience by meshing his backgrounds in radio and television. Whenever you listened to him call a game, he made you feel like you were right there. You were listening and seeing through his eyes."

"Omar absolutely loved broadcasting sports and it showed every time he was on the air. I will always be grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Omar because I learned so much about being a sports broadcaster from him. He was one of the best," said Miami University Assistant Athletic Director Steve Baker, who got his start broadcasting games at Miami with Williams.

"He broadcast our football and basketball games for many years and was a true professional," said former Miami men's basketball coach and assistant athletic director emeritus Darrell Hedric. "He had a great rapport with the players. He was very knowledgeable and always tried to do his best to convey the action to the listening audience. Omar was made to be in sports."

Williams passed away at his home in Marco Island, Fla. He was 83.