Eastern Michigan Athletics
An EMU Ambassador: Sportscaster Dave Diles Passes Away
12/28/2009 4:42:31 PM | General
Story Courtesy of Raymond Rolak
Story Courtesy of Raymond Rolak
DETROIT, Mich. -- Dave Diles, Sports Director of Detroit's WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) from 1961-1972 and 1979-1982, passed away on Dec. 27, attended by family members. Diles, had complications from a stroke. He had been retired and living on his farm near Athens, Ohio. He was 78.
Dave was also an ABC-TV Sports announcer covering the Olympics, College Football, Indianapolis 500 racing, NBA Basketball, Pro Bowlers Tour and Wide World of Sports programming.
He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. During his storied career in broadcasting, he spent more than two decades at ABC. He hosted the Prudential College Football Scoreboard Show on ABC for more than 10 years.
He was a big supporter of Mid-American Conference sports and was a pioneer in doing women's college features on television. While at WXYZ-TV, Diles did many stories on EMU sports, including one that got him recognized with a local Emmy.
He was a past President of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association and a frequent presenter at the North American International Auto Show.
Diles was a native of Pomeroy, Ohio and a superb athlete in his own right.
He hosted one of the first radio call-in sports shows at Detroit's WXYZ-AM, "Dial Dave Diles." He also spent time writing -- as an Associated Press sports editor and as an author of several books including ones on Terry Bradshaw, Denny McLain, Archie Griffin, Duffy Daugherty and ABC Sports.
Dave's son, Dave Diles, Jr., was director of athletics at Eastern Michigan University for several years and currently holds that position at Case Western Reserve.
There is a scholarship in his name for students from Meigs, Mason and Gallia counties in Ohio.
As a pioneer of sports talk radio and television broadcasting, Diles will be most remembered for his work ethic and professionalism. Broadcaster Bill Bonds summed a special statement, “Dave was one of a kind, fair, honest and hard working. He is admired and will be missed.” Arrangements are pending.
