Eells’ death shocks, disheartens Razorback Nation
Posted on Wednesday, August 2, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/43411/
Shock. Denial. Sorrow.
The emotions ran the gamut Monday night as news of Paul Eells’ tragic death in a car accident swept across the state.
The feelings were not any better Tuesday as the Razorback family came to grips with loss of the beloved broadcaster who had been the eyes, ears, face and voice of the Hogs for 28 years.
“ This is a very sad day, ” Arkansas head football coach Houston Nutt said Tuesday as he attempted but failed to hold back tears during a news conference. “ He was a wonderful man. It’s a very sad day for Arkansas fans. I cannot give words to justify [what kind of man he was ]. Paul Eells, to me, is the ulti- mate professional, just the perfect person. I have never known anyone who did not like Paul Eells. ”
Arkansas athletics director Frank Broyles echoed Nutt’s sentiments.
“ The Razorback family has lost a tremendous ambassador with the passing of Paul Eells, ” said Broyles, who hired Eells away from a similar position at Vanderbilt in 1978. “ He was the consummate professional and always represented the state and the Razorbacks with the utmost class. ”
Eells, sports director for KATV Channel 7 in Little Rock, lost control of his vehicle Monday on I-40 near Russellville while traveling back to his home in Little Rock after taking part in Nutt’s media / car dealer golf outing at Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club, according to a report by the Arkansas State Police.
Eells’ 2001 Impala crossed the median and struck a west-bound 1997 Lincoln, driven by Billie Jo Burton, 40, of Dover, head on at 8: 13 p. m. Burton and Eells were declared dead at the scene by state police.
“ It’s unbelievable, ” Danny Nutt, Arkansas running backs coach, said. “ I played golf with him [Monday ] afternoon and then three hours later he’s gone.
“ Paul was breathing heavy in the heat, but everyone was hot. ”
Eells, 70, wore many hats for the Razorbacks during his 28 years with the program. He served as the radio playby-play voice of the football Razorbacks and hosted the television show for Arkansas football and basketball coaches from 1978-2005.
Eells was also the playby-play radio announcer for Razorback basketball from 1978-81 and also served as the play-by-play announcer on KATV and ARSN’s television broadcasts of Razorback basketball from 1978 through last season.
Eells is survived by Vickie, his wife, and Brandon, his son, of Little Rock and two daughters by a previous marriage, Traci and Jennifer of Nashville, Tenn.
Eells was synonymous with Razorback athletics.
“ He was the voice, ” Houston Nutt said. “ He was the voice that represented the state. He was the voice of the Razorbacks. He had a very defined voice and it was a gift that he had. People related to that and he was invited into everyone’s living rooms and into their families. Because of that voice, there is an immediate connection and a bond. ”
Broyles said Eells had left a lasting stamp on Razorback athletics that will not soon be forgotten.
“ His voice was distinctive and his calls of ‘ Oh my ! ’ and ‘ Touchdown, Arkansas ! ’ will continue to resonate with Razorback fans everywhere, ” Broyles said. “ He was a truly special individual that touched so many of our lives as a broadcaster and a friend.
“ Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Vickie and the Eells family as we all grieve the loss of this special member of the Razorback family. ”
Barry Lunney Jr., Razorback quarterback from 1992-95 and current Bentonville High offensive coordinator, said it was a thrill be covered by Eells after growing up watching him on TV.
“ There’s no question he’s my favorite news guy to do an interview with just because of my interaction with him, ” said Lunney, who was great with a microphone during his time with the Razorbacks. “ He was just such a class act and obviously everybody’s going to miss Paul. Not just who he is but what he represents about the Razorbacks and being the voice of them. I grew up listening to him.
“ I have some old games on audio tape and we’re going to keep those forever to have his voice call some of those games and big plays and things like that.
“ It was fun to listen to him this past season. It was the first time being back in the area to listen as a fan. It brought back a lot of memories.
“ As good of an announcer as he was, he was a better person. ”
Jim Lindsey, former Razorback from 1963-65 and Vice Chairman of the UA Board of Trustees, said good will is the term that best summed up Eells.
“ He spread good will everywhere he went, ” Lindsey said. “ He was that kind of man. ”
Arkansas basketball coach Stan Heath, who is entering his fifth year at the program, called Eells one of his first friends in the state.
“ Paul was one of the first people to welcome me into the Razorback family and his style of interviewing always made me feel comfortable, ” Heath said. “ His personality never wavered. He was warm and friendly after a win, and he was warm and friendly after a loss. ”
Ronnie Brewer, whom the Utah Jazz drafted as the 14 th pick in June’s NBA Draft, said Eells always kept interviews positive, which the 6-7 guard appreciated, particularly early in his career.
“ He was a dear friend to me and a great guy, ” Brewer said. “ You always felt better after talking to him. We had a lot of success in high school at Fayetteville High, so it was tough my freshman year when we went 12-16. But when he came up from Little Rock, Mr. Eells, Paul, always smiled and had something good to say — ‘ Keep your head up’ or ‘ things are going to be better. ’
“ Things like that meant so much. You can ask any of the players on our team. ”
Nutt said Eells was particularly helpful after losses when the two taped the postgame coaches show.
“ Just his easy manner, ” Nutt said. “ The last two years, there were a lot of questions he could have asked, but didn’t. He made things easier. He talked about it possibly being his last year. I told him ‘ we’re not letting you go out like that [with a 4-7 season ]. We’re going to do better. ’ ”
Tony Cherico, a All-American nose guard for the Razorbacks (1984-87 ) and now defensive line coach at Bentonville High, said Eells’ easy manner allowed players to put their trust in him.
“ Fans know him from listening to games, ” Cherico said. “ I knew him more on a personal basis. And the players did because he was one of those types of guys that you could go up to and feel comfortable talking to. Paul and I were real close. Every year we played in this Razorback tournament [Orville Henry Golf Tournament in Hot Springs ].
“ Of all the announcers and all the sports reporters I’ve ever met, he was by far the classiest guy. As a matter of fact, I e-mailed Dean Weber that on behalf of a lot of the ex-players — because we won’t be able to go down to the funeral — just to tell what the thoughts of all the ex-players were.
“ We all held him in the highest esteem. It crushed me last night. I was in shock. ”
While it was too early for a definite plan to be put in place, Nutt said the football team would honor Eells in some way this season.
A memorial service has been scheduled for Friday at 2 p. m. at Robinson Center Auditorium in Little Rock. It is open to the public. The Eells’ family requests memorials be made to the Paul Eells Memorial Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 10689, Conway, AR 72034.