ATHENS -- Larry Munson died wearing a Georgia T-shirt that read "Go Dawgs" -- proof that even though the famous announcer didn't enter life as a Bulldog fan, he left that way.
On Saturday, 3,500 mourners attended a memorial on the 50-yard line of Sanford Stadium for the beloved broadcaster, who was 89 when he died Nov. 20 of complications from pneumonia. Munson was the voice of the Georgia Bulldogs for 42 years and wanted the service held in the stadium, his son Michael Munson said.
Friends and family members shared memories of Munson, who in addition to loving the Bulldogs also enjoyed hunting, fishing and going to movies. He always gave people nicknames, said his son Jonathan, who pressed his lips together tightly and fought back tears recalling that for some reason, Dad always called him "Josh."
"He had a wonderful trait of retelling some of our shared experiences," Jonathan said. "Whether we were fishing down at Lake Murray in South Carolina or in Alaska, at the end of the day he would rehash the day's events and make them come alive again. These everyday moments would become larger than life, and take on a greater significance.
"He was truly a storyteller and football was his greatest stage."
Mourners dressed in red and black sat on the shaded south side of the stadium for the chilly Saturday service. Several hid behind sunglasses, dabbing their eyes and wiping their red noses as a highlight reel of Munson's greatest calls played on the big screen above the end zone.
Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley, who spoke at the memorial, said this was the only time he remembered a service held at Sanford Stadium for someone other than Uga -- the team's four-legged mascot.
"He's a folk hero to all the Georgia people, and he'll always be," Dooley said. "So many people have never been here, but they've had 50-yard line seats all their lives just listening to Larry."
Fans remembered Munson for his vivid and passionate accounts of Georgia games, and said he was inseparable from the Georgia experience. Those who grew up listening to him described him as a grandfather who taught them how to root for the home team.
David Balkcom, a senior from Grayson, said some of his earliest memories were of listening to Larry Munson.
"I remember sitting in my grandfather's lap, listening to Larry's calls and the whole family cheering with Larry," he said. "He didn't even go to Georgia, but he was the biggest fan of the Bulldogs."
So colorful was Munson's commentary that fans turned down the volume on TV so they could hear Munson's calls on the radio. Even those sitting on the metal benches of Sanford Stadium would wear headphones so they could hear Munson describe a moment they witnessed.
Rob Harrison drove in from Doraville to attend the service with his wife, Adele and his son, Andy, a recent Georgia graduate. He said he took his headset to home and away games, and even bought a scanner so he could hear Munson call games on the road.
"Larry Munson has been a part of my life since I was 16 or 17 years old, and I'm 54 now," he said. "I brought my two sons up listening to Larry, and every time we would come to a game, I have a cassette tape of Larry, and we would plug in and listen to old calls."
Other speakers at the memorial service were UGA President Michael Adams, Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Tech announcer Wes Durham (via taped appearance) and Munson's replacement, Scott Howard. Current football coach Mark Richt led the opening prayer.
Michael Munson said his dad would have been moved by the service.
"He probably would have also thought it wasn't necessary to have all the fuss," he said, "but it would have touched him dearly."
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