Larry Birleffi
Encyclopedia
Larry V. Birleffi was a Wyoming
broadcaster
known as the original "Voice of the University of Wyoming
Cowboys
", having announced all UW football
and basketball
games from 1947—1986. He helped to build the UW sports program in Laramie
and was a vigorous promoter of its athletic teams. He also won a Bronze Star for his service during World War II
.
, and Louise Birleffi (1895–1986) in Hartville
in Platte County in southeastern Wyoming and lived in the state for his entire life except for four years in the military. During Birleffi's youth, Hartville had a population of two thousand, compared to fewer than one hundred in the 2000 census. Birleffi was of Italian
ethnicity and Roman Catholic in a predominantly Protestant state. He graduated from Sunrise High School, now Guernsey-Sunrise High School in Guernesey
, where he was quarterback
of the football team. In 1942, he received his bachelor of arts
degree in English
from the University of Wyoming. He was a major in the United States Army
92nd Infantry Division, having served in Italy
.
of broadcasting
. While in college, he was a sportswriter for the Laramie Daily Boomerang
, the daily newspaper
in Laramie
, the seat of Albany County. He thereafter moved into radio
and television
. An icon of Wyoming sports, he was renowned for his booming, enthusiastic voice. He also co-owned a radio station and appeared on regional and national television. He had a regular sports column in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle
in Cheyenne
. He was the announcer for UW football and basketball for some thirty-seven years. Birleffi's love of athletics was shown in his writing; according to his obituary
,he demonstrated a belief in the importance of teamwork, commitment, discipline, and spirit as essential to all sports.
He hosted regular television sports programs created a radio talk show
called Cheyenne Today. He was the station manager and eventually a part-owner of KFBC Radio. He received assignments, such as the National Finals Rodeo
in Las Vegas
, Nevada
, from ABC Wide World of Sports, created and originally produced by another Wyoming native, Curt Gowdy
, a personal friend of Birleffi's.
Birleffi was "Wyoming Broadcaster of the Year" in 1954. In 1992, the press booth at UW's War Memorial Stadium was named in his honor. In 1996, he was inducted into the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was named "Outstanding Alumni" for the UW College of Arts and Sciences. At the time, Governor Jim Geringer
described Birleffi as "indeed a gentleman cowboy and a scholar. His service to community, country, and nation brings honor and credit to Wyoming, our university, and to the College of Arts and Sciences.” In 2003, he was inducted to the Wyoming Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, having also been a former president of the organization. He was a member of Rotary International
, a founding member and past president of the Cheyenne Quarterback Club. He was active in the UW Cowboy Joe Club, the Wyoming Heritage Foundation, the American Heart Association
, and the American Cancer Society
.
, and Laurie Rosen and husband Steve of Chevy Chase
, Maryland
, and two grandchildren. Birleffi died at Davis Hospice
in Cheyenne. He was also survived by a sister, Evelyn B. Johnston, of Billings
, Montana
. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Arthur Birleffi and John A. Birleffi (1929–1999) of Greeley
, Colorado
. Services were held on September 30 at St. Mary's Cathedral, 2102 Warren Avenue, in Cheyenne. News of Birleffi's death was carried by the Associated Press
and many newspapers in the American West.
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
known as the original "Voice of the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
Cowboys
Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming Cowboys is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Wyoming. The women's teams use the name Cowgirls. The University is a member of the Mountain West Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 17 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Wrestling is the only varsity sport that is...
", having announced all UW football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
games from 1947—1986. He helped to build the UW sports program in Laramie
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
and was a vigorous promoter of its athletic teams. He also won a Bronze Star for his service 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...
.
Background
Birleffi was one of four children born to Victor Birleffi (1888–1970), a minerMiner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
, and Louise Birleffi (1895–1986) in Hartville
Hartville, Wyoming
Hartville is a town in Platte County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 76 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hartville is located at ....
in Platte County in southeastern Wyoming and lived in the state for his entire life except for four years in the military. During Birleffi's youth, Hartville had a population of two thousand, compared to fewer than one hundred in the 2000 census. Birleffi was of Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
ethnicity and Roman Catholic in a predominantly Protestant state. He graduated from Sunrise High School, now Guernsey-Sunrise High School in Guernesey
Guernsey, Wyoming
Guernsey is a town in Platte County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,147 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Guernsey is located at ....
, where he was quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
of the football team. In 1942, he received his bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
from the University of Wyoming. He was a major in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
92nd Infantry Division, having served in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Sports career
Birleffi's career spanned the historyHistory
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
. While in college, he was a sportswriter for the Laramie Daily Boomerang
Laramie Boomerang
The Laramie Boomerang is the only daily newspaper in Laramie, Wyoming. It was established in 1881 by Edgar Wilson Nye, who named the paper after his mule, Boomerang...
, the daily newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in Laramie
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
, the seat of Albany County. He thereafter moved into radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. An icon of Wyoming sports, he was renowned for his booming, enthusiastic voice. He also co-owned a radio station and appeared on regional and national television. He had a regular sports column in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle is a daily newspaper published in Cheyenne and distributed primarily in Laramie County, Wyoming. It is the state's second largest newspaper in terms of circulation, behind the Casper Star Tribune. The Tribune Eagle is also one of several newspapers serving the Front Range...
in Cheyenne
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
. He was the announcer for UW football and basketball for some thirty-seven years. Birleffi's love of athletics was shown in his writing; according to his obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
,he demonstrated a belief in the importance of teamwork, commitment, discipline, and spirit as essential to all sports.
He hosted regular television sports programs created a radio talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
called Cheyenne Today. He was the station manager and eventually a part-owner of KFBC Radio. He received assignments, such as the National Finals Rodeo
National Finals Rodeo
The National Finals Rodeo, organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, is the premier championship rodeo event in the United States. Wrangler Jeans is the title sponsor for the 10-day event, commonly just called the National Finals or NFR, which is also sometimes referred to as the...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, from ABC Wide World of Sports, created and originally produced by another Wyoming native, Curt Gowdy
Curt Gowdy
Curtis Edward "Curt" Gowdy was an American sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally-televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:The son of a manager for the Union Pacific railroad,...
, a personal friend of Birleffi's.
Birleffi was "Wyoming Broadcaster of the Year" in 1954. In 1992, the press booth at UW's War Memorial Stadium was named in his honor. In 1996, he was inducted into the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was named "Outstanding Alumni" for the UW College of Arts and Sciences. At the time, Governor Jim Geringer
Jim Geringer
James Edward "Jim" Geringer was the 30th Governor of Wyoming.-Early life and education:Geringer was raised on a farm in Wheatland, Wyoming. He attended Kansas State University and was a member of Triangle Fraternity, earning a degree in mechanical engineering. He served for ten years in the...
described Birleffi as "indeed a gentleman cowboy and a scholar. His service to community, country, and nation brings honor and credit to Wyoming, our university, and to the College of Arts and Sciences.” In 2003, he was inducted to the Wyoming Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, having also been a former president of the organization. He was a member of Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, a founding member and past president of the Cheyenne Quarterback Club. He was active in the UW Cowboy Joe Club, the Wyoming Heritage Foundation, the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
, and the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
.
Family and death
In 1942, he wed the former Lois A. Sturtevant (March 16, 1920—June 10, 2004); the marriage lasted until her death. The couple had three daughters, Lynn Birleffi and husband Phil Noble of Cheyenne, Bobbie Birleffi of New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Laurie Rosen and husband Steve of Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and two grandchildren. Birleffi died at Davis Hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
in Cheyenne. He was also survived by a sister, Evelyn B. Johnston, of Billings
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Arthur Birleffi and John A. Birleffi (1929–1999) of Greeley
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Services were held on September 30 at St. Mary's Cathedral, 2102 Warren Avenue, in Cheyenne. News of Birleffi's death was carried by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and many newspapers in the American West.