Joe Wilson (sportscaster)

Wilson was born on May 7, 1911, in Eveleth, Minnesota. He graduated from Northwestern University and began his broadcasting career at a radio station in Virginia, Minnesota. His first play-by-play experience came when the station had him call a hockey game.^[1] In 1941, he moved to Cleveland, where he called Cleveland Rams and Cleveland Barons games.^[2] In 1943, he became sports director of the Blue Network's (later the American Broadcasting Company) central division.^[2] During this time, Wilson served as a color commentator alongside Harry Wismer for the network's college football broadcasts.^[3]

In 1944, Wilson appeared on a number of experimental broadcasts on WBKB-TV.^[4] In 1948, Wilson left ABC to work for WBKB full-time.^[5] He called a number of sports for the station, including Chicago Cubs baseball, Chicago Blackhawks hockey, harness racing from Maywood Park, college football and basketball, boxing, golf, pool, and midget car racing.^[3][6] He also co-hosted a game show, anchored newscasts, and acted in televised plays.^[7][8][9] In 1949, he called college football games nationally for the DuMont Television Network.^[10]

Wilson moved to WMAQ-TV in 1952 and the following year began hosting the station's bowling program. He was the play-by-play announcer for a number of NBC's nationally aired bowling programs, including 1956's National Championship Bowling, as well as the syndicated Bowling Stars.^{[1][4][11][12]}

In 1952 and 1959, Wilson was a play-by-play announcer for Mutual Broadcasting System's Game of the Day baseball broadcasts.^[13][14]

In 1968, Wilson joined the Oakland Seals of the National Hockey League as director of publicity and promotion.^[2]

Wilson died on October 20, 1983, in Geneva, Illinois.^[1]