Roger Huston (born September 16, 1942[1]), known as "The Voice", is a harness race announcer. He has announced over 167,000 races[1] in his career, covering at least 126 different tracks in 17 states and 7 countries[2] (as of 2014). He was also the Public Address Announcer for The Pitt Panthers in football (and limited basketball) in the 1970s and 1980s, made famous by his enthusiastic call of "tackle by #99 HUGH Green!"
Born and raised in Xenia, Ohio, Huston grew up with a love of sports statistics.[1] He learned race calling from his uncle, who called races at Lebanon Raceway.[3][1] He attended Wilmington College, intending to become a teacher.[3] He began announcing races at Ohio county fairs in 1960. In 1965, he began announcing at The Red Mile. In 1967, he began announcing at Little Brown Jug, becoming the track's regular announcer in 1968, which position he still holds (as of today). In 1976, he began announcing at The Meadows, where he also hosts The Meadows Racing Network.
He has also called unusual races for charity and civic causes, including crawling baby races and pig races at state fairs.[3]
The United States Harness Writers Association has elected Huston to their Communicator's Hall of Fame (2000) and awarded him their Proximity Award (2011).[2] The Keystone Chapter of the USHWA inducted Huston into their Hall of Fame (2013).[4] He was elected to the Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame in 2000. [5]
Huston has been married twice, and has one daughter by each marriage. Each daughter was named after a horse, Cami Sue and Nevele Pride.[6]
Huston called his last race at The Meadows on Saturday November 2, 2019.
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 Egan 2014.
- 1 2 Connors 2011.
- 1 2 3 Pattak 2008.
- ↑ "Hall of Fame". Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- ↑ Pittsburgh Sports Report July 2000 article titled "Meadows' Huston Inducted Into Little Brown Jug Wall Of Fame" Retrieved December 31, 2016
- ↑ Ranger 2011.
References
- Connors, Gerry (December 19, 2011). "Roger Huston wins Proximity Award". United States Trotting Association. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
- Egan, D'Arcy (August 27, 2014). "Legendary announcer Roger Huston behind Northfield Park microphone — Horse Racing Insider". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.
- Pattak, Evan (December 12, 2008). "150,000 and counting for Roger Huston". United States Trotting Association. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
- Ranger, Duane (October 9, 2011). "Roger Huston — 45 Little Brown Jugs straight". Harnesslink. Retrieved April 12, 2015.