I was in Grand Rapids, Michigan, early Saturday morning when I got the e-mail. It was from my good friend John Morris of Baylor University, and the subject simply said, "Frank Fallon". With a strange sense of knowing exactly what I was going to read, I opened the message:

O'C,
I just wanted to make sure you knew that Frank passed away at his home Friday evening.
J. Morris

Frank Fallon was the broadcast voice of the Baylor Bears for most of the last half of the 20th Century. And, if you ever went to College Basketball's "Final Four", you likely heard the unmistakable richness of his voice on the public address.

Naturally, the e-mail evoked a tremendous amount of sadness on the passing of a great gentleman - and I do mean gentle man. But it also sparked an endless mental montage of little vignettes with Frank over the years that I will cherish forever.

Like...during the arduous organization of the original Southwest Conference Radio Network ... when representatives and announcers from most of the other schools were bucking for self-aggrandizement, Frank whispered to me, "Bill, whatever I can do to help you with this format, just let me know ... you're on the right track."

Like...I'm standing in the lobby of a Final Four hotel (one of many), waiting for one of my crew members, when in walks Frank and his lovely wife, June ... arriving in town, bags in hand ... who both make a straight line over to me, just to say "hi" and exchange pleasantries. Not just one year ... this would happen every year. As Frank would quip, "Well Bill ... good to see 'ya -- looks like you and I did a decent job last year, and they're having us both back...(ending with Frank's warmer than warm smile and chuckle).

To Frank's lady and family, thanks ... from all of us ... for sharing such a wonderful guy. Our profession and personal lives are much greater for the visit ... sadly ending way too early.

God Bless.