John Ward: Tennessee Volunteer ambassador

John Ward was the heart, soul and voice of Tennessee Volunteer football and basketball for three decades.

The Tennessee Volunteers put beloved favorite son John Ward on the road to Rocky Top Heaven this week with an emotional tribute. The tribute was fitting. Ward sat at the pinnacle of Southern football and basketball broadcasting for three decades.

John Ward died on June 20 at age 99. It will not be the last tribute for the Knoxville native.

While Ward retired after the 1999 season, his death put a period on not only a great era in Tennessee Volunteer history, but a great era in Southeastern Conference history.

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Fading memories of a bygone time

Ward and his play-by-play contemporaries – Larry Munson at Georgia, Cawood Ledford at Kentucky, and many others – blossomed with the rise of Southern football in the sixties, seventies and eighties. With few football television broadcasts and radio still a driving force in American entertainment, Ward’s voice connected Tennessee fans with their beloved Volunteers. Speaking to each person in their home or car, Ward personally painted the picture of Volunteer agony and glory.

It’s Football Time in Tennessee

Combining play-by-play with color and personality, Ward became the Tennessee Volunteer story-teller and family elder.  The grief felt by Volunteers is deep and personal.

Said Steve Early, general manager of the Vol Network to Dan Fleser, Knoxville News Sentinel. “There was no TV. There was no cable TV. There was no internet or digital. Radio was it. You had to paint a picture.”

Like his colleagues across the South, Ward employed a unique style. His path to the Rocky Top Mount Rushmore was equally unique.