Ahwatukee Foothills, Valley lose sports icon Dillon

Most college and professional athletes come and go within a matter of a few years.

But the sportscasters who call their games -- at least the great ones -- endure and can build a following that rivals or surpasses the people they cover.

• See also: Commentary: Dillon just a natural
• From the Tribune: Memorial service for broadcaster Dillon Friday

Longtime Ahwatukee Foothills resident Tom Dillon was one of them and he became an Arizona sports icon at both levels.

Dillon, 65, who collapsed and died suddenly in his home earlier this week, become recognized as a favorite play-by-play voice shortly after he started broadcasting Arizona State University football, basketball and baseball games in 1979. It was a bond that lasted through 1997.

He also did Arizona Cardinals games on the radio from 1989 through 2001 and is still fondly remembered for his baritone voice by fans who probably couldn't name the starting lineup on those teams.

Television exposure has helped put most local and national broadcasters in the limelight.

Almost ironically, Dillon was on the sports anchor desk at the former KOOL-TV (Channel 10) when he came to the Valley from Las Cruces, N.M., but switched over to radio at KOOL before he became a familiar face.

Even at the peak of his broadcasting career here he could go into a store almost anywhere in the Phoenix area and not be recognized as a celebrity.

At least not until he spoke.

For several years his voice was so instantly recognizable that restaurants, automobile dealerships and other advertisers clamored for the association.

He was also well respected by his peers. For 17 years he had a lock on the Sportscaster of the Year award presented by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

He could paint a moving picture in football, basketball or baseball.

Dillon is probably best remembered these days for his enthusiastic broadcast of Cardinals and ASU football games, including quarterback Jake Plummer's touchdown that helped the Sun Devils win the 1987 Rose Bowl game.

He was a catcher at one time but honed his craft doing minor league and college baseball games at New Mexico State University before coming to the Phoenix area where "Good wood, good distance, goodbye," was his home run trademark even in the days of aluminum bats.

Dillon was also a veteran pilot and would fly anyone who would climb into the passenger seat to places like Prescott just to have breakfast or lunch.

Although he was behind the microphone for college and National Football League games, Dillon said his favorite was high school football.

After he left the broadcast booth full time in 2001 sometimes he would be on the sidelines of a Desert Vista or Mountain Pointe football game as a part-time reporter for local newspapers.

But Dillon never hit the microphone mute button permanently.

He had been on the Sports USA radio network since 2005.

"It's a great gig," Dillon said last summer. "I get to travel around the country and do some of the best football games every week."

He was scheduled to broadcast the annual Arizona State-University of Arizona Territorial Cup on Saturday night in Tucson.

Survivors include his wife, Bonnie, two daughters and four grandchildren.

A memorial service celebrating Tom Dillon's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. today (Friday, Dec. 5) at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 3550 E. Knox Road, in Phoenix.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations, payable to the "Tom Dillon ASU Scholarship Fund," be mailed to First Community Bank, Attn: John Mistler, 2710 E. Camelback Road, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85016.