R.I.P.: Kelso, WA Broadcaster Rick Roberts

Rick Roberts

Rick Roberts, the voice of Kelso, WA sports for nearly four decades, passed away surrounded by family after a three-year battle with leukemia.

He was 66 years old, according to tdn.com.

“That he survived three years after the original diagnosis is incredible,” Roberts’ wife Sharon O’Connell said by phone Monday night. “Every day was Christmas to him, and he appreciated it. That’s a testimony to his spirit.”

Nicknamed “The Hurricane” for his irrepressible energy, Roberts missed just one Hilander football game in 39 seasons of broadcasting with KLOG 1490 AM.

His legendary call — “Scottie Dogs… You gotta love it” — was as much a part of Kelso sports as navy blue blazers, ties and the Highland Fling. And as Kirc Roland, his broadcast partner for more than 30 years, said Monday, there was no difficulty deciphering where Roberts’ loyalties lied.

“He never tried to hide who his audience was and who he was calling the game for,” Roland said. “Some people call them homers, and other people call them great.”

Born Aug. 12, 1947, in Longview, he graduated in 1965 and went to school in Portland to learn about the radio business. He got on at KLOG in 1973 selling ads and broadcasting games and was eventually named the station’s sales manager.

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