The Kentucky Broadcasters Association inducted Joel Utley, known as the “Voice of the Panthers” for his historic run as a radio announcer for Kentucky Wesleyan College basketball, into their Mic Hall of Fame on Monday during their state convention at the Owensboro Convention Center.
“I’m just virtually overwhelmed and I can’t thank the KBA enough,” Utley said. “And I can’t thank those who have supported me all these years enough. It’s been a miraculous experience for me and a marvelous adventure.”
It’s been a long wait for Utley to finally receive the honor, as he was notified about a year ago but everything was put on hold because of COVID-19. Utley said he’d been anxiously and nervously waiting for the opportunity to arrive and couldn’t be more grateful that it’s here.
“I’m telling you, other than the birth of my three children this is the finest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Utley said. “There’s no question about that. I’ve obviously been recognized in other areas, but to be recognized in your home state by the KBA is the [pinnacle] of the whole sha-bang.”
Utley announced his retirement in August after 61 years and the radio play-by-play of 1,933 KWC games. He is college basketball’s record holder for play-by-play longevity and total games called.
Utley also has the distinction as the only broadcaster in the nation to call 12 NCAA basketball championship games (across all levels) including eight Division II titles — 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999, and 2001.
These championship title games — specifically the run with Ray Harper at the helm in which the Panthers competed in six straight — are some of Utley’s fondest memories during his broadcasting career.
“Of course the eight national championships, and the fact that we played for the national championships for six straight years under Ray Harper,” Utley said. “We won two and lost four, but to be in the championship game six straight years in college basketball is just unbelievable because every four years at least the whole team changes. To be able to weather the change of personnel and play for a national championship six straight years is just unmatched.”
Utley received his first radio job at the age of 16 with Madisonville’s WFMW, where he started out doing high school basketball play-by-play. Utley attended Murray State and then the University of Kentucky, where he worked at WVLK radio in Lexington.
In 1961, Utley came to Owensboro to join the WVJS/WSTO-FM and TV2 teams where he did it all – news and sports director, disc jockey, play-by-play for high school football and basketball and college basketball.
Utley’s KWC legacy started at the Owensboro Sportscenter on Dec. 2, 1961, when the Panthers defeated California State University-Northridge by a final score of 100-64. He will always be thankful for the part KWC basketball has played in his life, feeling lucky to have been a part of such success over the years.
“It’s an unbelievable experience that I’ve had,” Utley said. “One that I do not take lightly. I’m indebted to Kentucky Wesleyan for the opportunity that I’ve had over the years and the outstanding program that has produced the success that the basketball program has produced at Kentucky Wesleyan.”
Utley has been selected to the Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Athletic Hall of Fame (2013) and Alumni Hall of Fame (2021) as well as the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame (2016). He also received the National Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award (2021).
Despite the abundance of accomplishments that he has had in his historic career, it had never crossed Utley’s mind that this was an honor that was within reach.
“Even after some other awards had come my way, this one had never occurred to me,” Utley said. “Never. And I was bowled over when they let me know last year, and to be able to go in at the same time as Paul Rogers who does the University of Louisville sports games is a double honor, as it were.”
Having reflected on his career since his retirement, Utley said that one of his favorite things about the job was being impacted by the younger generation around him. He went on to say that he was infused by their enthusiasm, helping motivate him while they motivated themselves.
“I think it was the opportunity to be around the younger people and to keep me young,” Utley said. “In other words the perspective of the young generation and their outlook on life. Going all the way back to the ’60s, we went through a lot of players and a lot of teams. When I was able to travel with them or even at the home games, to see what motivated them and kept them going rubbed off on me I think and helped keep me young and involved as it were.”
For a man who has filled the ear’s of many across Owensboro, the Commonwealth, and the country as whole, Utley said he just couldn’t truly express with his words just how grateful he is for the career he has had alongside Kentucky Wesleyan.
“I can hardly put into words how grateful and how thankful I am for the opportunity that has been given to me,” Utley said. “I give all the glory to God because of my health and the ability to be able to do these broadcasts over the years and to have the opportunity that I’ve had here at Owensboro’s Kentucky Wesleyan College. It’s been phenomenal.”
