Morry Mannies, Ball State Athletics radio broadcaster died at the age of 81, according to the university’s athletics website.
Known as the “Voice of the Cardinals,” Mannies began his 56-year-long career with Ball State Athletics as an 18-year old in 1956, for Ball State Football’s season opener against Hanover, the website states. His final broadcast came March 5, 2012, when Ball State Men's Basketball took on Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference tournament.
In his Ball State career, Mannies covered more than 5,500 Ball State and high school football and basketball games, while also logging more than 30,000 hours behind the microphone for WLBC/WXFN Radio in Muncie.
"This truly is a sad day not just for Ball State Athletics, but Ball State University," said Beth Goetz, Ball State's director of Athletics. "Morry's passion and dedication to Ball State were unmatched. His broadcasts had a way of tying everyone from students, alumni, faculty and staff, parents and community members together. Our condolences go out to the Mannies family."
Mannies, a Ball State alumnus, earned his bachelor's degree in 1960 and master's degree in 1964 from the university.
Some of his achievements include being a three-time winner of the Indiana Sportscaster of the Year Award and a three-time recipient of the MAC Sportscaster of the Year honor, the website states. He is a recipient of the Alumni Association's Beneficence Award and its Distinguished Alumni Award.
Apart from being inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985, Mannies was inducted into the Delaware County Hall of Fame, MAC Hall of Fame, Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame, Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the Indiana Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
The Mannies family established the Morry E. Mannies Sportscasting Scholarship in 2007 to benefit junior or senior telecommunications majors at Ball State.
In Mannies’ honor, a banner bearing his name, a microphone and the number 56 hangs in the Worthen Arena rafters.
Arrangements are pending with Meek's Mortuary in Muncie.
Read More
The closure of the historic Mark III Tap Room impacts Muncie’s LGBTQ+ community.
By Meghan Holt / 4 hours agoPatrons of the oldest gay bar in Indiana reflect on how it affected their lives.
A 40-year alliance: Brian Dudley is a staple with Wapahani baseball
By Zach Carter / 5 hours agoBrian Dudley spent 40 years as the Wapahani varsity baseball coach and finished his career with an 828-320 record.
Top-seeded Cardinals’ postseason run ends with upset loss to Lindenwood
By Adam Altobella / 15 hours agoNo. 10 Ball State was upset by No. 18 Lindenwood in a five-set battle (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 19-25, 11-15) on the Cardinals’ home court Thursday night. With how scarce at-large bids to the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament are, it is likely that the red and white’s 2024 campaign is over.
