After 52 years serving as the public address announcer for UNLV Athletics events, legendary “Voice of the Rebels” Dick Calvert has decided to step away from game announcing.
Calvert, who was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, has served in a variety of roles at UNLV spanning six decades, but is most well-known for his work calling men’s basketball and football games for the Rebels.
“After six decades, 52 years, about 5,000 games and events, and at 86 years of age, I believe it’s time to drop the mic and step away from UNLV game announcing for some fresh young talent,” Calvert said. “It’s been a super great ride and I have loved every minute of it. Honestly, this university has done so much more for me and my family than I have ever done for it.”
Calvert will remain a part of the athletics department, continuing to lend his unmistakable voice to radio ads and other special projects. The department is also planning special recognitions to honor its longest-tenured employee ever.
“Dick Calvert is a bona fide legend in college athletics as his unforgettable voice has become synonymous with not only UNLV but also with the city of Las Vegas as we grew into becoming the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World,” said Director of Athletics Erick Harper. “We appreciate every inning, quarter, round, and half that he has called over the last half-century for the Rebels and look forward to celebrating his amazing career during the upcoming seasons.”
Through the years, Calvert has called many other Rebel sporting events and has served as the game announcer for multiple conference tournaments, the Las Vegas Bowl, the NBA’s Vegas Summer League, the FIBA Americas tournament, the USA Basketball Senior Men’s National Team and the Las Vegas 51s (previously the Stars and now the Aviators) among others.
One of the longest-serving voices in all of American athletics, Calvert has also worked many Mountain West Championship events hosted by UNLV and served as an official starter for a number of university and NCAA golf tournaments.
On average, Calvert worked more than 200 local events annually and holds the unique distinction of having worked for every athletics director in UNLV’s history.
Calvert plans to remain a familiar face, along with his beloved wife Anne, at Rebel sporting events into the future.
