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Ed Thilenius

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edward Albert Thilenius (December 4, 1924 – March 23, 1981) was an American sports announcer.

He served as the play-by-play voice of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team from 1955 through 1965[1] and was part of the inaugural Atlanta Falcons radio broadcast team along with Johnny Sauer on CBS Sports televised NFL coverage during the 1966 and 1967 seasons.[2] He also served as the city editor for the Athens Banner-Herald and the sports director for WAGA (TV) in Atlanta, Georgia for 12 years.[3][4] In 1975, Thilenius became the head of public relations for the Atlanta Flames NHL hockey team.[5]

In 1960, Thilenius co-authored a book about Bulldogs football coach Wally Butts entitled No Ifs, No Ands, A Lot of Butts: 21 Years of Georgia Football.[6]

Thilenius died in 1981 at the age of 57.[7] He was survived by three sons: Edward, Robert, and Jackson. Edward has one daughter, Ariel Thilenius. Robert has one son, Garrett Thilenius. Jackson has two children, Evelyn and Asher.

References

  1. ^ Martin, Charles E. (1961). I've Seen 'Em All: Half Century of Georgia Football. Athens, Georgia: The McGregor Company. p. 75.
  2. ^ Smith, Loran (October 15, 2004). "Gameday". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
  3. ^ Tryggestad, Erik (March 7, 1999). "Athens has a spirited newspaper background". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
  4. ^ Seagraves, Donnie. "The Story of the Marigold Festival". City of Winterville, Georgia. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
  5. ^ "People in Sports; O'Brien Cries 'Foul' On Oldfield Shot-Put". The New York Times. Sports. May 14, 1975. p. 71.
  6. ^ Thilenius, Ed; Jim Koger (1960). No Ifs, No Ands, a Lot of Butts: Twenty-one Years of Georgia Football. Atlanta, Georgia: Foote & Davies Company. LCCN 60015266.
  7. ^ "Thilenius dies at 57". Lawrence Journal-World. AP. March 24, 1981. p. 6.