Budd Lynch
Encyclopedia
Frank Joseph James "Budd" Lynch (born August 7, 1917) is the Detroit Red Wings
' public address announcer
at Joe Louis Arena
, a position he has held since 1985. He began his career in 1949 as the team's radio play-by-play announcer. Lynch had been with the Windsor Spitfires
when Red Wings' general manager Jack Adams asked him to call the games for his organization.
A native of Windsor, Ontario
, Lynch joined the Essex Scottish Regiment
of the Canadian Forces
during World War II
; he lost his right arm during combat.
Returning home from the war, he joined the Red Wings, with the team winning the Stanley Cup
during his first season. In fact, Detroit won the Stanley Cup
four times during his first five years with the club. He attempted a retirement in 1975, but was brought back to the team by Alex Delvecchio as the Director of Publicity. A second retirement attempt in 1982 failed when Marian Ilitch asked Lynch to stay on at his current position of public address announcer.
His style as public address announcer is "simply relaying information to the crowd, not to act as a cheerleader." He often regards Gordie Howe
as the greatest player he has ever seen.
Budd Lynch was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1985 as a "media honouree" and winner of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
. In 1994, Budd was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
. In 2005, Lynch was the recipient of the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, awarded by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. Lynch is a two-time past president of the DSBA and an honorary lifetime member. He remains the Detroit Red Wings
PA Announcer, however starting in Fall 2008, he is joined on the PA at Joe Louis Arena
by John Fossen.
On November 5, 2009, Lynch was honored at Joe Louis Arena for the 60th anniversary of his first play-by-play television broadcast of a Red Wings game. After the ceremony, the Red Wings prevailed 2-1 over the San Jose Sharks in a shootout, and fans received Budd Lynch Bobbleheads to celebrate the occasion.
He currently resides in Wyandotte, Michigan
.
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
' public address announcer
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
at Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe and JLA is a hockey arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit, Michigan. It is the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Completed in 1979 at a cost of $57 million, Joe Louis Arena is named after boxer and former heavyweight...
, a position he has held since 1985. He began his career in 1949 as the team's radio play-by-play announcer. Lynch had been with the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
when Red Wings' general manager Jack Adams asked him to call the games for his organization.
A native of Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Lynch joined the Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish Regiment
The Essex Scottish was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army until 1954.Founded in 1885 as the 21st Essex Battalion of Infantry, it went through several name changes including: 1887 - 21st Battalion, Essex Fusiliers; 1900 - 21st Regiment, Essex Fusiliers; 1920 - The Essex Fusiliers, acquiring...
of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; he lost his right arm during combat.
Returning home from the war, he joined the Red Wings, with the team winning the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
during his first season. In fact, Detroit won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
four times during his first five years with the club. He attempted a retirement in 1975, but was brought back to the team by Alex Delvecchio as the Director of Publicity. A second retirement attempt in 1982 failed when Marian Ilitch asked Lynch to stay on at his current position of public address announcer.
His style as public address announcer is "simply relaying information to the crowd, not to act as a cheerleader." He often regards Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
as the greatest player he has ever seen.
Budd Lynch was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1985 as a "media honouree" and winner of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
The Foster Hewitt Memorial Award is an award named after Foster Hewitt and presented by the Hockey Hall of Fame to members of the radio and television industry who make outstanding contributions to their profession and the game of ice hockey during their broadcasting career...
. In 1994, Budd was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame to honor Michigan sports people. It was organized in 1954 by Michigan Lieutenant Governor Philip Hart, Michigan State University athletic director Biggie Munn, president of the Greater Michigan Foundation Donald Weeks, general manager of the...
. In 2005, Lynch was the recipient of the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, awarded by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. Lynch is a two-time past president of the DSBA and an honorary lifetime member. He remains the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
PA Announcer, however starting in Fall 2008, he is joined on the PA at Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe and JLA is a hockey arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit, Michigan. It is the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Completed in 1979 at a cost of $57 million, Joe Louis Arena is named after boxer and former heavyweight...
by John Fossen.
On November 5, 2009, Lynch was honored at Joe Louis Arena for the 60th anniversary of his first play-by-play television broadcast of a Red Wings game. After the ceremony, the Red Wings prevailed 2-1 over the San Jose Sharks in a shootout, and fans received Budd Lynch Bobbleheads to celebrate the occasion.
He currently resides in Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,883 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 7.6% from 2000. Wyandotte is located in southeastern Michigan, approximately south of Detroit on the Detroit River, and is part of the collection of communities known as...
.