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RPI 2020 Off-season Overtime: In Memory of Turk181

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Ralph Baer said:
I just read a message on the RPI_Sport list that former RPI PA announcer and publisher of the Intercollegiate Hockey Newsletter Don Birkmayer passed away on 11/5/20. :-(
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Sad news. His voice was legendary and part of the 'charm' of HFH back in the day. I remember him once saying that he was part of the crew that built the Field House in the late 1940s. In RPI hockey history, few people gave more of themselves to the program than Mr. Birkmayer.
 
vicious said:
Sad news. His voice was legendary and part of the 'charm' of HFH back in the day. I remember him once saying that he was part of the crew that built the Field House in the late 1940s. In RPI hockey history, few people gave more of themselves to the program than Mr. Birkmayer.
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Right on oh vicious one. Part of the "charm" was no doubt helped by the fact that college hockey was a "cult" sport with charm in his time as opposed to the business it has become. A better "face" (or is that voice) for the program could not have been found in that era.

Actually knew him a little bit not only from the time spent at the Fieldhouse as a youth but also by being a high school hockey team mate of his son. Dad was at almost all the games his son played in. Remember him entirely as a very classy gentleman and a extraordinarily good man. No doubt was a more suitable "corporate blend" with the people who ran the institute in his day than he would have been with todays' bunch. Also remember him being quite active in the booster club of that era, The Friends of RPI Hockey and as the Tournament Director of the Christmas Tournament.

Announcing style was staccato and a little dry with a heavy emphasis on diction. Kind of like the Bob Sheppard of Troy. No screaming, no yelling and most definitely no promos for bus companies, auto sharks or ambulance chasers. Would have been beneath this man.

Sometimes could get colorful. Probably in the late 60's the long departed University of Montreal program played three games in the Christmas Tournament. For all three of their games he announced all goals, assists and penalties in both English and French.

Occasionally could pull a Ralph Kiner or a Jerry Coleman. When announcing the starting lineups during a Christmas Tournament around the early mid 70's, he began by saying "and now for the Badgers of Ohio State University". He broke in at the first stoppage, profusely apologized for the blunder and said that in fact they were the Buckeyes.
 
Today is 3 December 2020. In honor of Hannah Price, there are 303 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
https://rpiathletics.com/honors/hall-of-fame/donald-t-birkmayer/116

Sold tickets to men's basketball games at '87 Gym as a freshman ... Worked at the Houston Field House in some capacity with Engineers hockey since the inaugural season of 1949-50 ... Served as scorekeeper for hockey and lacrosse team as an undergraduate ... Familiar voice at Rensselaer hockey games heard for so many years as the public-address announcer ... Took over the PA announcing and head of off-ice officials in 1963-64 and lasted more than 30 years ... Never missed a home hockey game from 1949-70 ... Awarded the Thomas J. Sheehan Sr. Award, given annually to someone in the athletic community who displays outstanding achievement in Rensselaer Athletics, in 1985 ... ECAC Certificate of Appreciation in 1985 ... Rensselaer Alumni Association Key Award in 1986 ... Founder (1954) and editor of Intercollegiate Hockey Newsletter for 40 years ... Management Engineering major ... Troy, New York ... Troy High School.
 
Ralph Baer said:
As well as earlier.

Does anyone recall when he left?
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probably around 1998-1999ish? Al Shibley was RPI’s SID until 1992 before taking over for Don. I always thought that the ring of honor needs to include Birkmayer up there as part of the fabric of RPI hockey. The only three announcers that should be in IMO are Don, Jayson Moy and Kurt Stutt, although the latter two would disagree.
 
I couldn’t agree more, Jericho.
All I can say is... wow. I enjoyed hearing his voice, especially during introductions of the starting lineup. Going back to what Tony said in regards to his announcing style, I remember his introduction of each sophomore player as a “soph-o-more”.
Unfortunately, I only met him once in person, and that was at a post-Freakout gathering at the Alumni House. This was after he retired from announcing and I asked him if he would ever be interested in doing one more game as part of a tribute night. He said that he would be interested but as long as it wasn’t on Freakout night. It was a shame that it never happened.
Hey, Don! What time is it??? Rest In Peace...
 
Again from the RPISPORT ;ist:

Sorry to hear about Don. Please remove my husband's name as well, David Messer passed away earlier this year. He loved folowing RPI hockey,
Jo-Ann Messer
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IIRC, Dave Messer used to keep stats at the HFH.
 
jericho said:
probably around 1998-1999ish? Al Shibley was RPI’s SID until 1992 before taking over for Don. I always thought that the ring of honor needs to include Birkmayer up there as part of the fabric of RPI hockey. The only three announcers that should be in IMO are Don, Jayson Moy and Kurt Stutt, although the latter two would disagree.
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I remember one of the banners at the old Spectrum in Philadelphia included a picture of a microphone, retired by the 76ers in honor of longtime announcer Dave Zinkoff.

I'm not sure if the Zink's banner got moved to the new arena in Philadelphia, which I think is now called Wells Fargo Arena, though it's changed its name so many times I'm not entirely sure.

But RPI still plays in the Field House where Don Birkmayer announced, so a retired microphone on the ring of honor wouldn't be entirely unprecedented.
 
Today is 4 December 2020. There are 302 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
Ralph Baer said:
I just read a message on the RPI_Sport list that former RPI PA announcer and publisher of the Intercollegiate Hockey Newsletter Don Birkmayer passed away on 11/5/20. :-(
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The Intercollegiate Hockey Newsletter was the Sporting News of college hockey. I looked forward to each issue because, in the pre-Internet days, it was unquestionably the best way to learn what was going on in our league and nationally. RIP to an RPI hockey icon.
 
NAFTA123 said:
Interesting to see the "regular" student body give push back towards the RPI administration in regards to how the Covid 19 situation was handled in first semester and to potential of the admin "demands" of the second semester.......

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/RPI-students-required-to-be-on-campus-demand-15772987.php

#sadbuttrue
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Sad but true is right. Yet another example of life in N. Korea ...the Troy version: "...On Wednesday, they received an email from Travis Apgar, assistant vice president for student life and dean of students, notifying them that their requests were approved in error."
 
jericho said:
probably around 1998-1999ish? Al Shibley was RPI’s SID until 1992 before taking over for Don. I always thought that the ring of honor needs to include Birkmayer up there as part of the fabric of RPI hockey. The only three announcers that should be in IMO are Don, Jayson Moy and Kurt Stutt, although the latter two would disagree.
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If you're going to include PbP announcers, you must inlcude Dave Simon and Richy Glassberg. If not, just put don B. on the banner and start from there.
 
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