Buffalo Broadcast Legend Passes Away

Van Miller, the longtime WIVB Sports Director and voice of the Buffalo Bills passed away on Friday.

Miller  the most versatile play-by-play man in Buffalo sports history, delivering memorable calls that became part of Western New York’s sports lore, died at age 87.

On a personal note, Miller was a friend of my Mom and Dad and I grew up listening to his voice on the radio calling sports (we used to listen to sports on the radio back in the day). I also went to school with Miller's son, who was also named Van. 

Miller is a member of six Halls of Fame and has his name on the Bills’ Wall of Fame and a seating area at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

In 2004, he became the first local play-by-play man to receive the Pete Rozelle Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, “for exceptional longtime contributions to radio and television in professional football.”

Miller is on the list of some of the biggest names in broadcasting who have won that award, including John Madden, Roone Arledge, Curt Gowdy, Pat Summerall, Jack Buck, Charlie Jones, Ray Scott, Dick Enberg, Chris Berman, Don Criqui and Jim Nantz.

H/T Buffalo News