Tom Carnegie
Encyclopedia
Tom Carnegie, was the public address
announcer
for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
from 1946 to 2006. His signature calls while at IMS were "He's on it" and "It's a new track record," which were said many times during his tenure. Carnegie died on February 11, 2011 at age 91.
Carnegie's father was a Baptist minister, which led to moving the family during Carnegie's childhood from Connecticut to Waterloo, Iowa
, Pontiac, Michigan
and finally Kansas City, Missouri
. Carnegie graduated from William Jewell College
in 1942, a four year liberal arts college in Liberty, Missouri
, 40 miles north of Kansas City. Carnegie was afflicted with a 'polio type' illness while in college during his junior year which led to partial paralysis in his leg. Before being afflicted, Carnegie played on his college baseball team.
The illness led to his entering into extemporaneous speech and debate competitions, and was quickly a star debater. During one such competition he entered a sports radio contest, which he won.
Upon graduation, Carnegie took his first radio job with WOWO radio in Fort Wayne, Indiana
, before taking a job in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. While in Fort Wayne, Carnegie broadcast Fort Wayne Pistons games. While living in Waterloo, Iowa, Carnegie would listen to radio broadcasts of a young Ronald Reagan
and credits Reagan with being one of his main broadcasting inspirations and influences.
While in Indianapolis, Carnegie would announce antique car shows and was approached in 1946 by new Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman
about being the Speedway's announcer. It was 20 years before Hulman began to pay Carnegie for his work. Carnegie would serve in this capacity until his retirement in 2006 and became "the voice of the Speedway". His signature phrases race fans came to know and love hearing included, as a driver would come down the front stretch to take the green flag signaling the start of the driver's qualifying four lap run, "...annnnnd heeeeeeeeeeee's ON-IT!". And, following a particularly good qualifying run, "...race fans, you are not going to believe this....iiiit's a nnnnnnewwwwww traaaaack record!"
In addition to his PA work at the Speedway, Carnegie, from 1953 until retiring in 1985, was sports director for WRTV
, originally WFBM-TV, in Indianapolis.
Carnegie also served as the PA announcer for the Indiana State High School Basketball championships
during this time. He, along with his broadcast partner Hilliard Gates
, coined the elongated called of "Heee missed it." Carnegie had a small role in the
1986 film Hoosiers
, where he portrayed the PA announcer at the championship game held at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse
on the campus of Butler University
.
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
from 1946 to 2006. His signature calls while at IMS were "He's on it" and "It's a new track record," which were said many times during his tenure. Carnegie died on February 11, 2011 at age 91.
Carnegie's father was a Baptist minister, which led to moving the family during Carnegie's childhood from Connecticut to Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
, Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
and finally Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. Carnegie graduated from William Jewell College
William Jewell College
William Jewell College is a private, four-year liberal arts college of 1,100 undergraduate students located in Liberty, Missouri, U.S. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and other civic leaders, including Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and father of the...
in 1942, a four year liberal arts college in Liberty, Missouri
Liberty, Missouri
Liberty is a city in Clay County, Missouri and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. At the 2007 population estimate, the city population was 29,993...
, 40 miles north of Kansas City. Carnegie was afflicted with a 'polio type' illness while in college during his junior year which led to partial paralysis in his leg. Before being afflicted, Carnegie played on his college baseball team.
The illness led to his entering into extemporaneous speech and debate competitions, and was quickly a star debater. During one such competition he entered a sports radio contest, which he won.
Upon graduation, Carnegie took his first radio job with WOWO radio in Fort Wayne, 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...
, before taking a job in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, 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...
. While in Fort Wayne, Carnegie broadcast Fort Wayne Pistons games. While living in Waterloo, Iowa, Carnegie would listen to radio broadcasts of a young Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and credits Reagan with being one of his main broadcasting inspirations and influences.
While in Indianapolis, Carnegie would announce antique car shows and was approached in 1946 by new Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman
Tony Hulman
Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. was a businessman from Terre Haute, Indiana who rescued the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 and made the Indianapolis 500 popular....
about being the Speedway's announcer. It was 20 years before Hulman began to pay Carnegie for his work. Carnegie would serve in this capacity until his retirement in 2006 and became "the voice of the Speedway". His signature phrases race fans came to know and love hearing included, as a driver would come down the front stretch to take the green flag signaling the start of the driver's qualifying four lap run, "...annnnnd heeeeeeeeeeee's ON-IT!". And, following a particularly good qualifying run, "...race fans, you are not going to believe this....iiiit's a nnnnnnewwwwww traaaaack record!"
In addition to his PA work at the Speedway, Carnegie, from 1953 until retiring in 1985, was sports director for WRTV
WRTV
WRTV, channel 6, is the ABC television affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana; it is owned by McGraw-Hill. Its transmitter is located on the northwest side of Indianapolis at 8001 Township Line Road. Its studios are found at 1330 N...
, originally WFBM-TV, in Indianapolis.
Carnegie also served as the PA announcer for the Indiana State High School Basketball championships
Hoosier Hysteria
Hoosier Hysteria is the state of excitement surrounding basketball in Indiana, or more specifically the Indiana high school basketball tournament. In part, the excitement stemmed from the inclusion of all tournament entrants into the same tournament, where a small town's David might knock off a...
during this time. He, along with his broadcast partner Hilliard Gates
Hilliard Gates
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.-Early days:...
, coined the elongated called of "Heee missed it." Carnegie had a small role in the
1986 film 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....
, where he portrayed the PA announcer at the championship game held at historic 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...
on the campus of Butler University
Butler 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...
.