An Incredible Heart Made Crum Irreplaceable, Unforgettable
NBC 4
A community mourns the passing of Jimmy Crum. Hear from close friends and co-workers.
CENTRAL OHIO—Central Ohio is mourning a legend Tuesday, and NBC 4 is mourning the passing of a great co-worker and friend.
Jimmy Crum, the dean of Central Ohio sports, passed away Monday night.
NBC 4’s Colleen Marshall, Cabot Rea and Jerrod Smalley, along with some others, remember and celebrate their friend Jimmy.
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Rea said it was Crum’s incredible heart that made him irreplaceable and unforgettable.
Crum was the sports authority for more than four decades.
He was voice of Buckeye basketball during the glory years of the ‘60s and the voice of the Cincinnati Bengals.
He was a friend to coaching legends Woody Hayes and Bobby Knight.
Crum was first and foremost a friend to Central Ohio children with disabilities.
The Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame member told Rea a few months ago—at his labor of love tournament that benefits Easter Seals, Special Olympics and Recreation Unlimited—how his love affair with Central Ohio children endured.
“There have been sportscasters who have come along who’ve been better than Jimmy Crum. I know that,“ Crum said at the tournament. “But the fact that I was involved with the community – I think that helped me stay at Channel 4 for 41 years more than anything else.“
Marshall said Crum built his reputation as a journalist with integrity from behind the sports desk.
She said Crum once told her that he was there to report the story, not be the story.
He wasn’t afraid to ask the tough questions, Marshall said. He, however, did allow his Buckeye bias to shine sometimes.
Crum told friends he was looking forward to playing golf this spring.
At a recent dinner honoring Crum, he told Marshall he was enjoying life.
“Well, I’m busier now than I was before I retired. But I’m doing what I want to do when I want to do it. And I don’t have to worry about that 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. deadline every day.“
NBC 4 Sports’ Jerod Smalley got word of Crum’s passing during Monday night’s Fiesta Bowl.
Smalley talked to several people in the Buckeye community who knew Crum and were saddened by his death.
“Jimmy Crum was a special guy. He loved Columbus, Ohio, and loved Ohio State and loved Recreation Unlimited and so many great causes,“ Head Coach Jim Tressel said. “He fought a valiant fight. You talk about someone who had some adversity in his life. But he’d have that bright sports coat on. He never wanted you to feel bad for him. Very special.“
“He came to visit me about a month ago,“ OSU President Gordon Gee said, “ because we had missed a tournament because of the wins. He was just as lively as could be. Obviously he was frail but lively. I’m personally really heartbroken because he was such a good man and represented all that’s good about Ohio and Ohio State.”
Smalley added that Crum really was a bright spot in his life, too. Smalley said he was an incredible man who shared a great deal of his knowledge and experience with Smalley.
“He was invaluable.“
Smalley said he will miss Crum dearly.
We all will.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest information in this developing story.
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Reader Reactions
I worked at WCMH (then WLWC) as an announcer and summer replacement technician while in college, and then directed “The DeMoss Report” and Ohio State Basketball for four years at Channel 4.
Jimmy was one of the good guys. Not that he didn’t have a temper, but the man would do anything for you.
When Jimmy’s cat had kittens, he talked me into taking one of them. Over the many years as I moved to several different bigger TV markets or networks, every time I would see Jim, either when visiting Columbus, my home town, or on the road at some sporting event that we were both covering, he would always ask, “do you still have that cat?“ Until a few years ago, when the cat finally died of old age, I always assured him that we did.
We were/are also both proud graduates of Ohio University.
I saw Jimmy during my last visit to Columbus in September while visiting my mother-in-law who also lives in The Forum. He was obviously fairly frail, but his sharp mind was clearly still in top form.
Jim is the last of the three whom I considered main anchors of The DeMoss Report, with Hugh DeMoss and Jerry Rasor prededing him in death, so to some of us, this really is the end of an era.
My heartfelt coldences to his family, and really to the entire Columbus community.
As was said somewhere above, I think, Jimmy Crum will be impossible to replace. He was a remarkable man.
Tom Edwards
Director
Mountain West Sports Network
Denver
Jimmy Crum is a Central Ohio Icon and the word of his passing brought tears to my eyes. Jimmy’s work helped to make Central Ohio the special place it is in so many of our lives. The loss of his huge compassion and his jackets leave a huge rip in the fabric of Central Ohio that cannot be replaced. Our thoughts are with his family in this time of grief. Thank you for sharing him with us all these years.
I wanted to post something for 2 friends of mine… Michael Foulmer was Easter Seal’s poster child for 1975 and 1976. My Friend Donneita McKenzie also has an award that was givin to her by Jimmy Crum.. His love affected everyone that came in contact with him..
As for me.. I miss him and I was up all night thinking about him.. I am considering making a memorial video to post on You Tube.. I want everyone to know just how special Jimmy was and hope that people can learn from his example… He was more then a sportscaster, he was the ultimate humaniterian..
I hope that a DVD of memories can be made and proceeds can go to his favorite charaties.. I think it would be a great way to keep his memory alive.
If my video Tribute comes together, I will see if I can post a plea to donate to their local special olympics chapter, Easter Seals or even MDA.. I think Jimmy would be happy that people are thinking of him on such a dreary day..
The family needs to know that we are all a part of a big family and that we will never EVER forget the man that helped bring a ray of sunshine into countless lives.. I know he did in mine, Donneita’s, & Michael’s…
RIP Jimmy… We love you…
Very sad news indeed. One of the last TV remnants of a Columbus I grew up with and fell in love with (Flippo, Lucy’s Toyshop, etc.) They don’t make them like Jimmy anymore. My best to his family)
I worked at the Forum @ Knightsbridge as a server. Mr Crum ALWAYS had a smile; called me Miss America and made everyone around him feel like they were the most important person in his life. I even have an autographed copy of his book. He was such an amazing person! I can’t believe it! He will be greatly missed by every life he touched.
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