Voice of PNG

[Guest GoStangs]

I saw this in the Austin American Statesman and thought a few PNG fans might enjoy the article.

TEXAS TRADITIONS: Voice of Port Neches-Groves still going strong

By PAUL J. WEBER

Associated Press Writer

In 42 seasons as the familiar voice of the Port Neches-Groves football team, James "Tip" Durham has missed only two games: when his mother died, and then when his father died.

At 73, Durham has delivered through Indian Stadium's public address system the vital facts from virtually every down of Port Neches-Groves football since 1964. Players who heard Durham announce their names in the 1970s, including current Indians coach Mark Burnett, now hear him bellow the names of their sons.

While there are no official records of which high school announcers have worked the longest in Texas, Port Neches-Groves fans safely assume Durham owns the most longevity in Southeast Texas.

The smooth, deep-voiced retiree has been as much an audible fixture as the band during hundreds of Friday nights in Port Neches, nestled just south of Beaumont near the Louisiana border. He has no plans of leaving the "Reservation," as the home field is known, anytime soon.

"I figured I'd do it as long as they'd let me," said Durham, a Port Neches-Groves graduate. "That's turned out to be a long time. I've never really thought about quitting."

He can still describe plays from three decades ago and name the seven head coaches he's outlasted from the press box. That list includes former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips, who led the Indians for two seasons in the 1960s.

Durham has announced games at nearly every landmark stadium in the state, including Texas Stadium, where he saw 40,000 fans for the 1977 state final against Plano. He's also been in the booth at the Astrodome, Kyle Field and, as recently as this season, Reliant Stadium for the Indians' season opener.

He's watched offenses evolve from the Wishbone to the spread, a career spanning so long that he now finds the grandchildren of his former teammates on rosters. Burnett's son, Drew, is the quarterback of the Indians and the grandson of Jimmy Burnett, who played with Durham in the late 1940s.

"I sometimes try to think what might make him stop for one reason or another," said Durham's son, James, who also played at Port Neches-Groves in the 1990s. "I still haven't thought of one."

Durham hardly imagined such longevity when, as a young teacher at Groves Junior High in the early 1960s, his principal asked him to announce football games because he didn't want to do it any longer. Durham was a likely choice for the job: after school, his voice was already being heard across the city as a part-time disc jockey for a country music station.

It wasn't long after that Durham was doing varsity football games. That's where he coined his trademark phrase, "Bonsoir, mes amies. Laiseez les bon temps roulet!" — or, "Good evening, friends. Let the good times roll!" He learned it from a school maintenance man as a child after moving from East Texas, when he says he was so naive to Louisiana culture that he didn't "even know what rice and gravy was."

Other hallmarks of a Durham-announced game are never hearing the specific penalty committed ("The fans can decide what they think," he said), excessive emphasis for the home team or drawing out syllables in words. Instead, first downs and touchdowns are said in the same tenor for the Indians as their opponents.

"I can't show prejudice when the game is going on. There are two teams out there," he said. "No one's ever complained about my voice yet."

[adminbaberuth]

Thanks GoStangs for posting that article. Even though he's across the tracks, he's a real professional and class act.

If you ever get to watch the video called Braggin Rights by Reagen Hawkins you will be in for a treat. He's probably has 15 minutes or more talking about the history of Mid County Madness, it's a treat to all football fans.

[Guest Cherokee Nation]

Tip is with out a doubt the best announcer in the area and the best high school announcer I have ever heard. Thanks for the post GoStangs.

[skipper]

i always liked to go to pn-g this guy is a class man good luck to him in the years to come.

[Guest GoStangs]

He's one of my all time favorites, also. When I saw the article, I just had to put it up here (and at PNGIndians.com).

[Guest 1motime]

Just the best announcer in the area, that is coming from a Bulldog fan.

I hope to see him on the Texas country reporter some day.

[MikeEast]

mola momee... mumba lumba. humba bumba.............bonton roulet!!

Thats all I ever hear when we play them..... :?

Seriously, I know he is an icon and has been at it forever so I seriously have nothing but respect for him. But,,, as a Bulldog fan,,, hearing his voice makes my skin crawl and I almost immediately feel like upchucking.

[Guest 1motime]

I know what you mean but he is the best for sure

[The Voice]

Mr. Durham does a great pre-moment of silence speech. Is he still doing that at the reservation?

[NDNWarrior]

Yes, he still does a GREAT moment of silence. To me, Tip Durham is what PNG is all about.........HONOR, PRIDE, TRADITION!!! Keep up the good work, Mr. Durham!

[MikeEast]

I must say that I was impressed with the passive resistance speech. Expressing vehement disagreement with, but abiding by, the law of the land is a great way to handle it. I wish Nederland would do the same thing. :!: Of course if it were my decision we would follow the real Americans over in Vidor and just outright defy a law that is direct contradiction to the Constitution.

[PNG Proud]

10-4 Mike, 10-4

[^Gusher Fan^]

I must say that I was impressed with the passive resistance speech. Expressing vehement disagreement with' date=' but abiding by, the law of the land is a great way to handle it. I wish Nederland would do the same thing. :!: Of course if it were my decision we would follow the real Americans over in Vidor and just outright defy a law that is direct contradiction to the Constitution.[/quote']

AMEN :!: