BOULDER, Colo. — Larry Zimmer, the longtime radio voice for University of Colorado football and basketball who also called Denver Broncos games, died Saturday. He was 88.
The school announced his death before the third-ranked Colorado women’s team hosted No. 6 Southern California on Sunday. A moment of silence was planned before the game.
Zimmer had been hospitalized for the past 10 days in Lakewood. He received numerous visitors and text messages from the university and the Broncos before his death.
A Colorado radio icon.
Rest in peace, Larry Zimmer
more: https://t.co/Mevfrnm7Uv pic.twitter.com/J6LNFlCs1P
— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) January 21, 2024
We’re saddened by the passing of legendary Broncos radio broadcaster & longtime #BroncosROF committee member Larry Zimmer.
Since 1971, Larry has called some of the franchise’s most iconic moments & helped honor some of our greatest legends.
📰: https://t.co/53levfiJaq pic.twitter.com/BIUQDJl7HK
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 21, 2024
Zimmer spent seven decades in broadcasting since his college days at Missouri. He called 486 football games at Colorado (22 bowl games) and 525 men’s basketball games. He also worked 536 preseason, regular-season and postseason games with the Broncos, including four Super Bowls.
In addition, he was on the microphone for football games at the University of Michigan (51 games) and Colorado State (34).
“His voice was synonymous with our athletic program and he was most beloved by our coaches, players and fans,” Colorado athletic director Rick George said in a statement. “He is truly a part of our overall athletic history.”
Zimmer was hired in 1971 by KOA sports director Bob Martin to be the play-by-play person for Colorado football games and to serve as the color commentator for the Broncos. Zimmer also had a stint as the voice for the Denver Rockets, who were members of the American Basketball Association, and the Colorado Caribous of the North American Soccer League.
In the middle of the 2014 season, Zimmer experienced health issues and was hospitalized for five months. He returned in 2015 for what was his final season. His last home game was on his 80th birthday against Southern California, where he was honored in a pregame ceremony.
“There was only one guy in the country who sounded like him, and when you heard him, you knew it was a CU or Bronco game,” said Alfred Williams, a standout at Colorado from 1987 to ’90 who also played for the Broncos.
Born on Nov. 13, 1935, in New Orleans, Zimmer attended LSU before he transferred to Missouri and earned a degree in journalism in 1957. He broke into the business by broadcasting high school football and basketball games in Columbia, Missouri, and Lawton, Oklahoma.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Brigitte; son, Lawrence III; daughter, Tracey Robb; and granddaughter, Shannon Robb.
