Bill Grigsby
Encyclopedia
William W. "Bill" Grigsby (February 13, 1922 – February 26, 2011) was an American sportscaster
and member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
. Grigsby was best known for his work with the Kansas City Chiefs
.
in 1922, the youngest of three sons of Harry Ludwell Grigsby and Elanore Amelia Grigsby. His father was a geologist, frequently unemployed during the Great Depression so the family moved to Lawrence, Kansas
when Bill was in third grade. After graduating from the University of Kansas
, Grigsby served three years in the United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF) during World War II as a cryptographer
. He married wife Frances in 1949 and they would have five children: three sons and two daughters.
, advancing from copy boy to sports reporter. It was while in Joplin he began his first foray into broadcasting, serving as play-by-play voice of the Joplin Miners minor-league baseball team. In 1957 Grigsby returned to his alma mater to broadcast Kansas Jayhawks
football and basketball games. While at KU, Grigsby broadcast the first nationally-televised NCAA Final Four
game as Kansas lost to North Carolina
in triple overtime. Bill Grigsby began his long association with the Kansas City sports scene in 1959 when he was hired as part of the Kansas City Athletics broadcasting team. The Kansas City Chiefs
hired Grigsby in 1963 and he would remain a fixture of game broadcasts until his retirement in 2009. His trademark, no matter the weather, "Its a bea-youuu-tiful day for Chiefs football" endeared him to generations of Chiefs fans. Other work included broadcast and management duties with the Kansas City Scouts
of the NHL
, local commercial voiceovers, and even a brief stint as a wrestling promoter. Grigsby published the first of two books, Grigs! A beauuutiful Life in 2004, followed by Don't Spit in the Wastebasket, a collection of sports memories, in 2005.
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
and member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, USA, showcases sports memorabilia of Missouri athletes and interactive displays.-Inductees:-External links:*...
. Grigsby was best known for his work with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
.
Personal life
Bill Grigsby was born in Wellsville, KansasWellsville, Kansas
Wellsville is a city in Franklin County, Kansas, United States. The town site of Wellsville was laid out in the fall of 1864 by Messrs, Shoot, Root, and Wells of Chicago. The town was named after Mr. Wells of the company. The population was 1,606 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wellsville is...
in 1922, the youngest of three sons of Harry Ludwell Grigsby and Elanore Amelia Grigsby. His father was a geologist, frequently unemployed during the Great Depression so the family moved to Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
when Bill was in third grade. After graduating from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, Grigsby served three years in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) during World War II as a cryptographer
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
. He married wife Frances in 1949 and they would have five children: three sons and two daughters.
Professional career
Following his discharge from the USAAF Grigsby took a job with the Joplin Globe newspaper in Joplin, MissouriJoplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
, advancing from copy boy to sports reporter. It was while in Joplin he began his first foray into broadcasting, serving as play-by-play voice of the Joplin Miners minor-league baseball team. In 1957 Grigsby returned to his alma mater to broadcast Kansas Jayhawks
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
football and basketball games. While at KU, Grigsby broadcast the first nationally-televised NCAA Final Four
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
game as Kansas lost to North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in triple overtime. Bill Grigsby began his long association with the Kansas City sports scene in 1959 when he was hired as part of the Kansas City Athletics broadcasting team. The Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
hired Grigsby in 1963 and he would remain a fixture of game broadcasts until his retirement in 2009. His trademark, no matter the weather, "Its a bea-youuu-tiful day for Chiefs football" endeared him to generations of Chiefs fans. Other work included broadcast and management duties with the Kansas City Scouts
Kansas City Scouts
The Kansas City Scouts was a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1974–76. In 1976, the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies...
of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, local commercial voiceovers, and even a brief stint as a wrestling promoter. Grigsby published the first of two books, Grigs! A beauuutiful Life in 2004, followed by Don't Spit in the Wastebasket, a collection of sports memories, in 2005.
Failing health
Grigsby suffered a heart attack in October 2003 which caused him to miss several broadcasts. It was also during that decade he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. When the Chiefs honored Grigsby with a special ceremony in September 2010, Grigsby was seen in a wheelchair. Bill Grigsby died of prostate cancer on February 26, 2011 at the age of 89.Honors
- Grigsby was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of FameMissouri Sports Hall of FameThe Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, USA, showcases sports memorabilia of Missouri athletes and interactive displays.-Inductees:-External links:*...
in 1994. - Inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsNational Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsThe National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
(NAIA) Hall of Fame in 1991. - Grigsby Field, a community baseball field in Parkville, MissouriParkville, MissouriParkville is a city in Platte County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,059 at the 2000 census. Parkville is known for its antique shops, art galleries, and historic downtown. The city is home to Park University and English Landing Park....
was named in his honor in 2002. - In 2007, a life-size statue of Bill Grigsby was erected at the National Golf Club of Kansas CityNational Golf Club of Kansas CityThe National Golf Club of Kansas City is an exclusive golf club located in the Kansas City, Missouri, USA suburb of Parkville. The golf course was designed by champion golfer Tom Watson, a native of Kansas City, Missouri...
in Parkville.