Send Your Condolences

Dear Crum Family,

I wanted to let you know how very sad I am over the passing of your father. I’m sorry for the depth of your sadness and wanted to share a story with you even though you already know how special your father was to all who knew him. He not only helped children but also many adults.

I had the opportunity to meet your dad at a very sad time in my family’s life.  My husband was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in July, 1988, at the age of 45.  Through the efforts of my nephew, my family had the chance to meet Jimmy, Bobby Knight, the OSU men’s basketball team and attend one of their practices.  What a tremendous honor for him and all of us.  Your dad also visited at our house. What a lift that was to my husband’s spirts!! 

My husband, Leo Nunan was a HUGE fan of sports and coached many years for the students at Finland Middle School, where I was employed for 28 years. There is an annual award given to a middle school student in honor of my husband.  At the end of every school year for the past 19 years,  your dad presented that award to the most deserving athlete for all around good citizenship.  The speeches he gave over the years were truly inspiring to all in attendance.  The students will truly miss seeing him this year as well as everyone else at the awards ceremony. He will remain in our hearts forever.
I loved your dad for what he gave to me, my family and all of the community. 
In sympathy and love,
Jerri Nunan Garich

I had the privilege of working with Jimmy from April 24, 1967 until he retired in 1994.  My experience was not from the News/Sports Room, as others have mentioned, but from Engineering.  In all those years I never heard one derogatory comment in his direction.  The times the audio person had to really be on their toes, was when asked for a mike check prior to air time and it was confirmed, Jimmy would begin with “GOOD EVENING SPORTS FANS”.  It may have just been his way of being sure his audience was wide awake and ready for his sports reports.
Jimmy never asked for the impossible, although one time he thought he had.  When we were televising Ohio State Basketball from St. Johns Arena, Jimmy always reported from the same side of the floor the cameras were on.  One year, OSU changed the reporter tables to the other side of the floor, but the cameras could not change.  That really bent Jimmy out of shape, having to report the action with all the ”BARN BURNERS” and “HOW ABOUT THAT SPORTS FANS”, etc., with the players running left to right in front of him, while going right to left on his TV monitor, which he needed to help identify calls, players, etc. during a fast moving game.  After the first game, Jimmy asked Engineering Supervisor, Randy Clum, if there was possibly anything that could be done, because OSU would not allow him back on the camera side.  Randy came to me with the problem and I asked him to get me a specific toggle switch.  After installing the switch with some minor rewiring, Jimmy could now make the players run either direction he wanted.  Needless to say, we now had a VERY happy Jimmy Crum!
Over the years, I worked with Jimmy on many technical situations which ( I hope) made his work on remotes and Easter Seals Telethons a lot easier.  As hard as he worked, especially telethons, the extra stress of something going wrong, I did my best to avoid.
The experiences from 27 years working with Jimmy could go on and on, but the list of people with them would be much longer.
Kelly and James, you have my sincere condolences as well as belated condolences for your Mother.  I retired Christmas 1998, moved back to Holmes County and was unaware of Miriam’s passing.

Ron Patterson
Retired Asst. Chief Engineer, WCMH / NBC

Legends never die and Jimmy is a Legend. Jimmy will live on in our hearts and minds through the great memories he left us. He was a role model to many who left a lasting positive impression through his charity work and his marvelous career in sports. He meant a lot to me and others growing up in Central Ohio loving sports. I’ll remember the “Barn Burners” and the “How about thats” that sent shivers down your spine. He helped make us part of the game. Heaven just got a little brighter. I will miss you my friend. Thank you for making my childhood more memorable. Your Alaska Fan. Jeff

I’ve worked for Franklin County Board of MR/DD since 1987. My son also worked for a short time at Recreation Unlimited. Jimmy used to come to our holiday parties and picnics for ARC North. Our folks would flock to him. He reciprocated with loving hugs and warm words. It didn’t matter if they were his campers, Special Olympians, or if he’d never met them, he offered them such genuine love. Once he knew their names, he never forgot them. He was a special friend of my friend, Chad, who is a camper. Jimmy impacted lives that many people in the community never have the joy of knowing. Thank you, Jimmy, for improving the lives of all of us!

In sadness….Lyn

I grew up in SE Ohio and I remember as a kid in the ‘60’s having to turn the rooftop TV antenna to watch a black and white TV “snowy” broadcast of Jimmy Crum announcing OSU basketball games and his signature “How about that Buckeye fans!“ However, the best was Jimmy remembering me years later after I participated at St. John Arena in the Ohio state finals of a Sertoma foul shooting contest while an Athens 7th grader. I went on to play baseball at Ohio University and Jimmy was attending a game one day. Between games of a double header at OU, I walked up to Mr. Crum, introduced myself to him, he shook my hand, and in his classic voice said, “you’re the kid from Athens that was in the Sertoma foul shooting contest at Ohio State a few years ago. It’s nice to see you again!“ I’ll never forget what a gracious, genuine man he was that day and every day! I know he has to have remembered lots of children along his path of a generous, giving life he exemplified. Thank you, Jimmy, for remembering me.