Ken Tanner, longtime voice of the Durham Bulls and veteran radio, TV reporter, dies

The Durham Bulls, and the Durham community at large, are mourning the loss of Ken Tanner, longtime radio voice of the Bulls.

Tanner died Monday, according to the Bulls.

Tanner began his broadcasting as a sportscaster in high school. Tanner then worked at WNCT radio in Greenville, North Carolina, which helped kickstart his career. Capitol Broadcasting’s Ray Wilkinson took note of Tanner after seeing and hearing him on air at WNCT, and brought him on board with Capitol in 1979.

There, Tanner worked as a farm reporter and anchor for WRAL-TV for 23 years before returning to radio broadcasting as the play-by-play voice for the Durham Bulls. He also called some N.C. State sports, and served as the backup public address announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Tanner was well known for his postgame “Star of the game” interviews, and for the signature way he shouted, “Bulls win! Bulls win!”

“We mourn the loss of a longtime member of the Bulls family & team ambassador Ken Tanner,” the Bulls’ Twitter account posted. “Our thoughts are with Ken’s loved ones during this difficult time.”