An open visitation for longtime Louisiana Tech Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Nitz will be held Saturday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City (2201 Airline Drive).
A private memorial service will be held at 2 p.m.
Nitz, who was also the voice of the Shreveport Captains minor league baseball team, passed away Tuesday at 82.
Here are some thoughts and reflections on Dave’s 50 years in broadcasting from those that knew him best, among them coaches, administrators and fellow broadcasters, on the Louisiana Tech Athletics website put together by Kane McGuire, Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications and Digital Marketing.
Jack Thigpen (LA Tech men’s basketball radio color analyst)
“It didn’t take long for me to realize how much Dave loved sports and broadcasting. His goal then, and for many years, was to become a major league baseball announcer. In my opinion, Dave was as good as, and better than most, big league announcers. Louisiana Tech has been very fortunate to have had Dave as the voice of the Bulldogs all these years. Dave lived to broadcast games and was the ultimate professional. He was as good a broadcaster as there is.”
Benny Thornell (LA Tech football radio partner)
“Even though Dave was a West Virginian through and through, Tech meant a lot to him. He had received his degree from Tech and had raised his family here. For 50 years, his life revolved around Tech. A lot of people grew up listening to him broadcasting Tech games. It was always interesting to see people tell him how much they enjoyed listening to him on the radio. He had no idea who most of them were, but to them he was part of their family. To them he was Tech, and he will definitely be missed.”
Chip Walters (voice of Middle Tennessee Athletics)
“Dave was a broadcaster … pure and simple. He was the eyes and ears of Tech fans everywhere. In addition to being a pro’s pro, he was a prince of a guy. I’ll miss a great friend and Tech fans will miss the soundtrack of so many great moments for over 40 years.”
Randy Lee (voice of WKU Athletics)
“Dave was a broadcaster I always admired. His passion for our special profession and longevity was remarkable. We developed a special friendship over the years. Dave always greeted us with a smile, and he had that special way of making you feel better. I’ll miss Dave a great deal.”
John Cox (voice of Southern Miss Athletics)
“I was sad to hear of the passing of my good friend Dave Nitz, who has been a friend and mentor to me as well as many others. A legend in the broadcasting world throughout his incredible career as “The Voice” of Louisiana Tech and Shreveport Captains, he loved nothing better than to put that headset on and tell the story of whatever game he was working. No one told the story better than Nitzy as he was one of a kind. I will miss my good friend who taught me so much about what broadcasting was all about. He will be greatly missed by everyone and by those who he spoke to on his broadcasts.”
Jon Teicher (voice of UTEP Athletics)
“Nitzy and I called Texas League baseball together, he in Shreveport, me in El Paso in the 80’s. Louisiana Tech and UTEP simultaneously in the WAC and then in CUSA. Dave loved being the voice of Louisiana Tech. An absolute Louisiana icon and a fabulous broadcast. RIP my friend.”
Dr. Eric Wood (former LA Tech Director of Athletics)
“It was an honor to work alongside Dave Nitz during the last couple of years of his legendary tenure as the voice of the Bulldogs. He was so passionate about his calling and reaching that 50-year milestone. Well done, Mr. Nitz … Rest in Peace.”
Jim Oakes (former LA Tech Director of Athletics)
“Dave Nitz will forever be remembered as an iconic figure in Tech Athletics history. Dave was on the call for so many memorable moments for Tech sports over the past 50 years. When the Tech family hears the words “Ya gotta love it” we will always smile and think fondly of Dave and his great legacy.”
Talvin Hester (LA Tech Men’s Basketball head coach)
“I was so glad that I had the chance to meet Dave. He is a Legend to all that know him. His love and passion for Louisiana Tech is definitely unmatched.”
Eric Konkol (former LA Tech Men’s Basketball head coach)
“Dave Nitz was a true legend – his voice, his passion, and his love for the games made an unforgettable impact on everyone who had the pleasure to hear him. When you think about the many significant moments in Louisiana Tech sports history, the voice of Dave Nitz is attached to them. I’m grateful for the time I shared with him and for the way he brought our games to life. He will always be a part of Louisiana Tech’s story and forever in our hearts.”
Mike White (former LA Tech Men’s Basketball head coach)
“Dave will be missed dearly. He was always fun to be around, had great stories, and loved the Dogs. We’ll miss “The Voice!”
Dusty May (former LA Tech Men’s Basketball assistant head coach)
“The Nitzer was one of a kind! Either a smile, a laugh or a comment comparing West Virginia to Heaven preceded any greeting. Dave loved his family, minor league baseball, and being one of the guys. We would take the bus from Ruston to San Antonio and instead of complaining, he would move up front and keep our driver’s company. Prayers to his family.”
Duffy Conroy (former LA Tech Men’s Basketball assistant coach)
“Dave Nitz was a joy to be around! An incredibly gifted announcer who had an amazing ability to bring the listener to the event. Dave was a great guy who wanted to know about everyone he encountered. I will always remember meeting him for the first time and when he learned I grew up in Iowa near the “Worlds Largest Truck Stop on I-80” he lit up. Whenever I hear John Denver’s “Country Roads,” I think of Dave as it was his ring tone for many road trips. A great announcer and a great friend to all.”
Lane Burroughs (LA Tech Baseball head coach)
“From day one on the job, Dave always treated me with such respect and professionalism. We had a good rapport and could always joke back and forth and bust on each other. I loved that. Some of my fondest memories were his countless stories of Louisiana Tech, coach Patterson and his day sin pro ball with the Shreveport Captains. No matter where we went, he always knew the scouts and other people that I’d be conversing with on the field in pregame. Many of them being former players in the Giants organization. I always knew heading to postgame what he was about to question me on concerning decisions that were made during the game. I would always remind him that I’m the coach and he’s the play-by-play guy and we’d always have a laugh about it after signing off. He truly was a legend and the voice of many of Tech faithful’s youth. He had those pipes and knowledge of the game all the way up to the end. I’m personally honored that I was able to share time with him in the booth, the bus and be a small part of his legacy. He will be sorely missed, and we wish Dave and his family peace, comfort and clarity during this tough time.”
Skip Holtz (former LA Tech Football head coach)
“He was professional, he was passionate, he loved the games, he loved the craft, and he was a true Bulldog, red and Bulldog Blue through and through. We go back a long way, and we had so many great games and so many great times together. I’ll miss his kindness, and I’ll miss his compassion for the players and coaches, and we’ll all miss his voice. We lost a great one when we lost Dave.”