Detroit Radio Legend Frank Beckmann Dead at Age 72

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, February 14, 2022 | 11:30am CT

Frank Beckmann

Sad to report that the longtime voice of Cumulus Media's WJR-AM/Detroit, the legendary Detroit sports broadcaster Frank Beckmann, died Saturday night at the age of 72. Beckmann announced his retirement in January, 2021, after a 48-year radio career with the News/Talk outlet. A sports broadcasting legend, Beckmann hosted "The Frank Beckmann Show" on WJR weekdays from 9am-Noon for 18 years prior to his retirement in March, 2021.

Named "Best Midday Personality" by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Beckmann was cited as Michigan's top sportscaster for his work as the only person to broadcast games for all four of Detroit's major sports teams and his creation of Detroit's first Sports/Talk show, "Sportswrap," in 1981. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and was also inducted into the Michigan Associations of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and the VIP Mentoring Coaches Challenge Hall of Fame.

Beckmann first signed on to News Talk 760 WJR in 1972. In 1981, he succeeded Bob Ufer as the University of Michigan football play-by-play announcer, a job he did for 33 seasons. He was honored as "Top Michigan Sportscaster" numerous times, and in 2014, he received the Chris Schenkel Award by the National Football Foundation, making Beckmann a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Over the course of his career, Beckmann helped raise tens of millions of dollars for Detroit area charities, including The Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund; Dutton Farm, which serves those with Down Syndrome; the Autism Alliance of Michigan; and numerous other nonprofit organizations. Beckmann was also a longtime major supporter of the March of Dimes, and hosted an annual golf tournament fundraiser for the charity for 37 years.

Paul W. Smith, Beckmann's fellow broadcaster for the past 25 years, and in the early part of their careers at WJR, commented, "In all my years of broadcasting and all the people I've had the privilege of working with, Frank Beckmann was one of a kind. All of us at WJR, and for that matter, all of Detroit, have been lucky to have him."