Hilliard Gates
Encyclopedia
Hilliard Gates was an American sportscaster
who was widely regarded as the founding father of Indiana
broadcasting and the leading sportscaster in Indiana for decades.
radio, at that time a 50,000-watt clear channel radio station in Fort Wayne, Indiana
in 1940. He supervised the construction of WKJG radio which went on the air in November, 1947. He put WKJG-FM on the air in June, 1948 and in November 1953, was the first person to appear live on Fort Wayne television when he signed WKJG-TV
onto the air. His segment Gatesway to Sports was very popular with Fort Wayne viewers.
's Hinkle Fieldhouse
in 1954, Hilliard Gates was at the microphone - and his delivery was so powerful and distinctive that he was also used as the announcer in the 1986 movie, Hoosiers
, a fictionalized story based on the Milan team's accomplishments.
Hilliard was the announcer who first introduced many sports to Fort Wayne television. He appeared on more network broadcasts than any other announcer in Indiana history, and in 1967 and 1968, he broadcast the Rose Bowl
in Pasadena, California
for NBC
radio. Hilliard was named Indiana Sportscaster of the Year seven times and was nominated for the honor 20 consecutive years. He was the first broadcaster to be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
(1969). In 1977, the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association cited him for his long contribution to Indiana basketball.
, youngest of the three major network affiliates, highest in the ratings.
, but without much success.
built in 1951. He was twice elected president of the Fort Wayne Press Club.
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...
who was widely regarded as the founding father of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
broadcasting and the leading sportscaster in Indiana for decades.
Early days
Born Hilliard Gates Gudelsky, Hilliard used his middle name, Gates, as he entered broadcasting. Gates began his career with WOWOWOWO
Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, WOWO is an independent news/talk radio station transmitting on 1190 kHz at 50,000 watts during the daylight hours and 9,800 watts during the nighttime hours. An application is on file with the Federal Communications Commission to add a fourth tower to the three...
radio, at that time a 50,000-watt clear channel radio station in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
in 1940. He supervised the construction of WKJG radio which went on the air in November, 1947. He put WKJG-FM on the air in June, 1948 and in November 1953, was the first person to appear live on Fort Wayne television when he signed WKJG-TV
WISE-TV
WISE-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Northeastern Indiana licensed to Fort Wayne. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 18 from a transmitter at its studios on Butler Road in Northwest Fort Wayne. The station can also be seen on Frontier FiOS channel 4 and...
onto the air. His segment Gatesway to Sports was very popular with Fort Wayne viewers.
Sports announcing
Gates was highly respected as a sports announcer well outside the northern Indiana. When tiny Milan High School won the state basketball championship at Butler UniversityButler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
's Hinkle Fieldhouse
Hinkle Fieldhouse
Hinkle Fieldhouse is a basketball arena located on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. When it was built in 1928, it was the largest basketball arena in the United States, and it retained that distinction until 1950. It is the sixth-oldest college basketball arena still in...
in 1954, Hilliard Gates was at the microphone - and his delivery was so powerful and distinctive that he was also used as the announcer in the 1986 movie, Hoosiers
Hoosiers
Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship....
, a fictionalized story based on the Milan team's accomplishments.
Hilliard was the announcer who first introduced many sports to Fort Wayne television. He appeared on more network broadcasts than any other announcer in Indiana history, and in 1967 and 1968, he broadcast the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio. Hilliard was named Indiana Sportscaster of the Year seven times and was nominated for the honor 20 consecutive years. He was the first broadcaster to be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
(1969). In 1977, the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association cited him for his long contribution to Indiana basketball.
Station management
During his tenure as vice-president and general manager of WKJG-TV, the station was proud of having hired many talented beginners who eventually moved on to larger markets and bigger paychecks. However, this was probably a consequence of their low budgets. For years, WKJG's news broadcasts were assured good ratings simply on the basis of their sports coverage. In the 1980s, competitors fought aggressively for the news viewer with upgraded sets, larger staffs, personable newscasters, and enhanced production graphics, with WPTAWPTA
WPTA is the ABC-affiliated television station for Northeastern Indiana licensed to Fort Wayne. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter at its studios on Butler Road. The station can also be seen on Comcast and Frontier FiOS channel 7...
, youngest of the three major network affiliates, highest in the ratings.
Retirement
Gates retired as vice president and general manager of WKJG-TV in 1990 and served as a consultant to the station until May 1993 before his death 1996. After Gates' death, WKJG-TV fared even more poorly. New station management attempted a facelift, even changing the call letters to WISE-TVWISE-TV
WISE-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Northeastern Indiana licensed to Fort Wayne. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 18 from a transmitter at its studios on Butler Road in Northwest Fort Wayne. The station can also be seen on Frontier FiOS channel 4 and...
, but without much success.
Community leadership and honors
Gates held office in many community and state organizations. He was on the original Jaycees committee that got the Allen County War Memorial ColiseumAllen County War Memorial Coliseum
The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, initially built in 1952 for nearly $3 million in Fort Wayne's Johnny Appleseed Park. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was originally designed to seat 8,000 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball...
built in 1951. He was twice elected president of the Fort Wayne Press Club.
- Indiana Governor Roger D. BraniginRoger D. BraniginRoger Douglas Branigin was the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from January 11, 1965 to January 13, 1969...
named Gates a Sagamore of the WabashSagamore of the WabashThe Sagamore of the Wabash is an honorary award created by the state of Indiana during the term of Governor Ralph F. Gates . A tri-state meeting was to be held in Louisville with officials from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Aides to Gates learned that the governor of Kentucky was preparing...
. - Fort Wayne Sports Corporation annually awards the Hilliard Gates Achievement Award for contributions to athletics in Fort Wayne.
- Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) named its on-campus sports arena the Hilliard Gates Sports CenterHilliard Gates Sports CenterHilliard Gates Sports Center is a 2,700-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It opened in 1981 and contains of space. It is home to the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Mastodons volleyball and women's basketball teams....
in his honor.