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'''Robert Pormann Ufer''' (April 1, 1920 – October 26, 1981) was an American ] athlete and radio broadcaster. As an athlete, he set the world indoor record of 48.1 seconds in the indoor ] (quarter mile) run and was selected as an All-American in 1943. As a broadcaster, he served as the lead broadcaster for the ] team for 36 years, starting in 1945. He was in the first group inducted in 1978 into the ] along with ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Voice of Michigan Football: Remembering Old Man Ufer|newspaper=The Michigan Daily|date=September 13, 2012|author=Luke Pasch|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/bob-ufer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bob Ufer - The Voice of Michigan Football|publisher=Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan|accessdate=July 7, 2014|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stadium/stadtext/ufer.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=From the sound of it, Ufer remains a Wolverine legend|date=November 14, 2006|author=Gene Wojciechowski |publisher=ESPN.com|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=2661402}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Ufer Dead|newspaper=The Argus Press (AP story)|date=October 27, 1981|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19811027&id=CUIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yqwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2828,5623147}}</ref> '''Robert Pormann Ufer''' (April 1, 1920 – October 26, 1981) was an American ] athlete and radio broadcaster. As an athlete, he set the world indoor record of 48.1 seconds in the indoor ] (quarter mile) run and was selected as an All-American in 1943. As a broadcaster, he served as the lead broadcaster for the ] team for 36 years, starting in 1945. He was in the first group inducted in 1978 into the ] along with ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Voice of Michigan Football: Remembering Old Man Ufer|newspaper=The Michigan Daily|date=September 13, 2012|author=Luke Pasch|url=http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/bob-ufer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bob Ufer - The Voice of Michigan Football|publisher=Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan|accessdate=July 7, 2014|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/stadium/stadtext/ufer.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=From the sound of it, Ufer remains a Wolverine legend|date=November 14, 2006|author=Gene Wojciechowski |publisher=ESPN.com|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=2661402}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Ufer Dead|newspaper=The Argus Press (AP story)|date=October 27, 1981|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19811027&id=CUIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yqwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2828,5623147}}</ref>


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Ufer was born ] and grew up in the ] suburb of ].<ref>{{cite news |author=] |title=Bob Ufer |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19811026&id=Nj5PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pQIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6816,1220059 |newspaper=] |location= |publisher= |date=October 26, 1981 |accessdate=July 7, 2014 }}</ref> His father was a lumber broker.<ref> Ufer was born ] and grew up in the ] suburb of ].<ref>{{cite news |author=] |title=Bob Ufer |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19811026&id=Nj5PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pQIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6816,1220059 |newspaper=] |location= |publisher= |date=October 26, 1981 |accessdate=July 7, 2014 }}</ref> His father was a lumber broker.<ref>
{{cite news| title=U-M grads rush toward their goal to bring life and career of Bob Ufer to Hollywood| author=Fannie Weinstein| work=]| date=1996-01-18| url=http://dangerouslogic.com/ufer.html| accessdate=2008-04-01}} {{cite news| title=U-M grads rush toward their goal to bring life and career of Bob Ufer to Hollywood| author=Fannie Weinstein| work=]| date=1996-01-18| url=http://dangerouslogic.com/ufer.html| accessdate=2008-04-01}}
</ref> An outstanding track and field athlete at the ],<ref>{{cite news|title=Ufer Favorite in Big Ten Meet: Bids for Third Triumph Tomorrow at Chicago|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 10, 1944|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/177031848.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+10%2C+1944&author=&pub=Chicago+Daily+Tribune+%281923-1963%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=UFER+FAVORITE+IN+BIG+10+MEET}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Ufer, Michigan, Bids in Hollis '600'|newspaper=Boston Globe |date=February 2, 1944 |page=8 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/doc/840103973.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Feb+2%2C+1944&author=&pub=Daily+Boston+Globe+%281928-1960%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=Bob+Ufer%2C+Michigan%2C+Bids+in+Hollis+%27600%27}}</ref> Ufer set eight freshman records. At the ] track meet in 1942, he set a new world indoor record of 48.1 seconds in the ], breaking the old record of 48.2.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Ufer obituary|newspaper=The Sporting News|date=November 14, 1981|page=59}}(Ufer "held the world indoor mark for the quarter-mile in 1942")</ref> He was a three-time ] champion in the indoor 440-yard dash.<ref>{{cite book|title=Two Thousand Eight Michigan Men's Track & Field|editor=Hergott, Jeremiah|publisher=Frye Printing Company|year=2008}}</ref> In 1946, a year after he began broadcasting Michigan football games on ] radio in Ann Arbor, Ufer came down with ulcerated colitis. Doctors ordered him to give up his broadcasting career. He agreed on the condition that he could continue to call Wolverines football games. </ref> An outstanding track and field athlete at the ],<ref>{{cite news|title=Ufer Favorite in Big Ten Meet: Bids for Third Triumph Tomorrow at Chicago|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 10, 1944|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/177031848.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+10%2C+1944&author=&pub=Chicago+Daily+Tribune+%281923-1963%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=UFER+FAVORITE+IN+BIG+10+MEET}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Ufer, Michigan, Bids in Hollis '600'|newspaper=Boston Globe |date=February 2, 1944 |page=8 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/doc/840103973.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Feb+2%2C+1944&author=&pub=Daily+Boston+Globe+%281928-1960%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=Bob+Ufer%2C+Michigan%2C+Bids+in+Hollis+%27600%27}}</ref> Ufer set eight freshman records. At the ] track meet in 1942, he set a new world indoor record of 48.1 seconds in the ], breaking the old record of 48.2.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Ufer obituary|newspaper=The Sporting News|date=November 14, 1981|page=59}}(Ufer "held the world indoor mark for the quarter-mile in 1942")</ref> He was a three-time ] champion in the indoor 440-yard dash.<ref>{{cite book|title=Two Thousand Eight Michigan Men's Track & Field|editor=Hergott, Jeremiah|publisher=Frye Printing Company|year=2008}}</ref>


== Broadcast career == == Broadcast career ==
Ufer called Wolverines football on WPAG from 1945 to 1976 and on Detroit's ] from 1977 to 1981. He is remembered for his exuberant, partisan broadcasting style, openly rooting for Michigan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ufer's maize-and-blue boosterism to go nationwide|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=January 1, 1977 |page=S A3 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/169494512.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+1%2C+1977&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%281963-Current+file%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=Ufer%27s+maize-and-blue+boosterism+to+go+nationwide}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan's Epic Poet a Homeric Homer, Ufer Chronicled a Football Odyssey|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |author=Rosenberg, Michael |date=October 17, 2001 |page=E.1 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/doc/1271794688.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+17%2C+2001&author=Rosenberg%2C+Michael&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=&desc=MICHIGAN%27S+EPIC+POET+A+HOMERIC+HOMER%2C+UFER+CHRONICLED+A+FOOTBALL+ODYSSEY}}</ref> He had many familiar so-called 'Uferisms,' such as referring to Michigan as "Meeechigan" (a reference to how legendary Michigan coach ] used to pronounce the name), and honking loudly on the 'Bo ] Schembechler horn' -- the actual horn from General Patton's Jeep, Ufer explained on air many times (honked three times for a touchdown, two times for a field goal or safety, and once for an extra point). He even recited his own poetry about the game. ] shared a birthday with Bob, but Bob was nine years older. Ufer called Wolverines football on WPAG from 1945 to 1976 and on Detroit's ] from 1977 to 1981. He is remembered for his exuberant, partisan broadcasting style, openly rooting for Michigan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ufer's maize-and-blue boosterism to go nationwide|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=January 1, 1977 |page=S A3 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/169494512.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+1%2C+1977&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%281963-Current+file%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=Ufer%27s+maize-and-blue+boosterism+to+go+nationwide}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan's Epic Poet a Homeric Homer, Ufer Chronicled a Football Odyssey|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |author=Rosenberg, Michael |date=October 17, 2001 |page=E.1 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/doc/1271794688.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+17%2C+2001&author=Rosenberg%2C+Michael&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=&desc=MICHIGAN%27S+EPIC+POET+A+HOMERIC+HOMER%2C+UFER+CHRONICLED+A+FOOTBALL+ODYSSEY}}</ref>

Ufer loved nothing more than his Wolverines, and lost his voice during several broadcasts after too much screaming. One of his most classic moments came in the 1979 homecoming game against ], when Michigan's ] caught a 45-yard touchdown pass with no time left to win the game. Ufer was unable to contain his excitement, shouting so loudly that his voice overpowered the sound of the 106,000 fans in ] over the radio that day. After the touchdown, Ufer exclaimed, "I have never seen anything like this in all my 40 years of covering Michigan football. . . . Look at the crowd! You cannot believe it! . . . You're listening to it. I hope you can hear me – because I've never been so happy in all my cotton-picking 59 years! I have seen -- I have broadcast 347 ball games. I've never had one like this. . . . Meeeshigan wins, 27 to 21. They aren't even going to try the extra point. Who cares? Who gives a damn?" Ufer often referred to Michigan Stadium as 'The hole that Yost dug, Crisler paid for, Canham carpeted, and Schembechler fills up ''every'' Saturday'.

Another memorable moment came in November 1973, when unbeaten Michigan played unbeaten ] in ] with the trip to the ] on the line. At Michigan home games the "M-Club" (a booster club) hoists a large banner at mid-field, under which the Michigan team runs when they take the field, jumping up and slapping the banner as they go. On that day Ohio State, as visitor, took the field before Michigan. The Ohio State team ran to midfield and tore down the M-Club banner. Ufer reported: "Here they come: Hare, Middleton, and the Buckeyes… and they're tearing down Michigan's coveted M-Club banner! They will meet a dastardly fate here for that! There isn't a Michigan Man who wouldn't like go out and scalp those Buckeyes right now. They had the ''audacity'', the ''unmitigated gall'', to tear down the coveted M that Michigan's going to run out from under! But the M-men will prevail because they're getting the banner back up again. And here they come! The maize and blue! Take it away 105,000 fans!" Ufer then allowed the sound of the home fans cheering on their team be the next half a minute of broadcast. (The game resulted in a ].)

== Personal life ==
]
]
Ufer was also a ] salesman who founded his own company, Ufer & Co. Insurance, in 1947.

Ufer lost a long battle with cancer October 26, 1981,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Ufer dies; Michigan announcer for 36 years|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=October 27, 1981 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/170540088.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+27%2C+1981&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%281963-Current+file%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=Bob+Ufer+dies%3B+Michigan+announcer+for+36+years}}</ref> nine days after his last broadcast; at Ufer's funeral, former Michigan ], ], said, "Bob Ufer was Michigan football. That's what he lived and died for. I think he would have liked being described that way." Ufer is buried at ] in Ann Arbor.

In 1983, the parents of Ann Arbor raised rock 'n' roller, ], purchased the Ufer home. W.K. grew up in the house before moving to ], 14 years later.

Ufer's son, also named Bob Ufer, was the commissioner of the ].

In July 2011, the offices of Ufer & Co. Insurance, which had been sold by Ufer's sons in 2009, were moved to a location adjacent to ] to a building renamed "The Ufer Building" in his honor.<ref>{{cite news| title=People & achievements in the greater Ann Arbor area, including McMullen Properties and Interim HealthCare|author=AnnArbor.com staff| work=]| date=2011-07-21|url=http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/people-achievements-in-the-greater-ann-arbor-area-including-mcmullen-properties-and-the-university-o/|accessdate=2011-10-221}}</ref><ref>http://business.a2ychamber.org/news/details/kapnick-insurance-group-announces-the-opening-of-their-newly-rennovated-office-building-in-ann-arbor</ref>


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 03:57, 16 April 2015

Robert Pormann Ufer (April 1, 1920 – October 26, 1981) was an American track and field athlete and radio broadcaster. As an athlete, he set the world indoor record of 48.1 seconds in the indoor 440-yard (quarter mile) run and was selected as an All-American in 1943. As a broadcaster, he served as the lead broadcaster for the Michigan Wolverines football team for 36 years, starting in 1945. He was in the first group inducted in 1978 into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor along with Gerald Ford, Bill Freehan, Tom Harmon, Ron Kramer, Bennie Oosterbaan, and Cazzie Russell.

Early years

Ufer was born Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. His father was a lumber broker. An outstanding track and field athlete at the University of Michigan, Ufer set eight freshman records. At the Big Ten Conference track meet in 1942, he set a new world indoor record of 48.1 seconds in the 440-yard dash, breaking the old record of 48.2. He was a three-time Big Ten Conference champion in the indoor 440-yard dash.

Broadcast career

Ufer called Wolverines football on WPAG from 1945 to 1976 and on Detroit's WJR from 1977 to 1981. He is remembered for his exuberant, partisan broadcasting style, openly rooting for Michigan.

References

  1. Luke Pasch (September 13, 2012). "The Voice of Michigan Football: Remembering Old Man Ufer". The Michigan Daily.
  2. "Bob Ufer - The Voice of Michigan Football". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  3. Gene Wojciechowski (November 14, 2006). "From the sound of it, Ufer remains a Wolverine legend". ESPN.com.
  4. "Bob Ufer Dead". The Argus Press (AP story). October 27, 1981.
  5. AP (October 26, 1981). "Bob Ufer". Toledo Blade. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  6. Fannie Weinstein (1996-01-18). "U-M grads rush toward their goal to bring life and career of Bob Ufer to Hollywood". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  7. "Ufer Favorite in Big Ten Meet: Bids for Third Triumph Tomorrow at Chicago". Chicago Tribune. March 10, 1944.
  8. "Bob Ufer, Michigan, Bids in Hollis '600'". Boston Globe. February 2, 1944. p. 8.
  9. "Bob Ufer obituary". The Sporting News. November 14, 1981. p. 59.(Ufer "held the world indoor mark for the quarter-mile in 1942")
  10. Hergott, Jeremiah, ed. (2008). Two Thousand Eight Michigan Men's Track & Field. Frye Printing Company.
  11. "Ufer's maize-and-blue boosterism to go nationwide". Chicago Tribune. January 1, 1977. p. S A3.
  12. Rosenberg, Michael (October 17, 2001). "Michigan's Epic Poet a Homeric Homer, Ufer Chronicled a Football Odyssey". Detroit Free Press. p. E.1.

External links

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