The University of Oregon has announced the passing of Eugene radio personality Terry Jonz, who has been the voice of Oregon women’s basketball since 2005. Jonz died on February 20 at the age of 70 after battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Jonz got his radio start working for local stations Magic 94.5 and Star 102.3 in the 1980s, where he started calling high school games and tournaments in football, basketball, and baseball. He began working with Oregon Sports Network as an engineer in 1997, eventually joining the broadcast team for football and women’s basketball. OSN estimates he contributed to more than 1,500 games during his career.
Jerry Allen, the radio voice of the Ducks, said, “Not a lot of words can express the feelings of loss and love for a wonderful man who was very much like a brother, and so beloved by the fans. I’m sure he has a courtside seat in heaven, waiting for us to join him one day to get the old broadcast team back together.”
Oregon women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves said, “The entire Oregon women’s basketball family is mourning the loss of Terry, whose passion for the program and the people in it was unparalleled. We all miss his enthusiasm for our Ducks on the air and off, and the professionalism he brought to his broadcasts. We’ve lost a man I considered not just a colleague but a friend, and my thoughts go out to his family at this difficult time.”
Oregon Sports Properties General Manager Kelly Schukart added, “More than the fantastic radio personality that he was, Terry was a loving father and grandfather. He was a strong voice for female student-athletes. He was a devoted Duck, an incredible teammate, and an even better friend. We will miss him tremendously, and our thoughts are with his family and everyone else his huge heart touched.”
Lady Ducks could do no wrong when Jonz was announcing the games. When Oregon was called for a foul, Terry more often then not, would blame the refs for a bad call. Or if he thought that Oregon was fouled and the refs did not call it, again he would blame the refs for not calling the foul. What a HOMER. On the other hand, Bev Smith is a Keeper.