Story by Beaver County Radio Program Director/News Director Frank Sparks

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Longtime Beaver County Radio Play by Play Announcer Tom Hays is calling it a career after 40 years announcing games for Beaver County Radio in one form or another.

Hays started his career in broadcasting for WMBA in Ambridge in 1981 and made the move to WBVP and then Kiss 107.9 in 1987.  In 2000 WMBA was purchased by then owner of WBVP Frank Iorio. Hays  would call color commentary for Bob Barrickman in those days. In 2012 play by play man Jim Fredrick retired and Tom took over as play by play announcer for WMBA broadcasts. Tom could also be heard on WBVP broadcasts and since its inception in August of 2019 on 99.3 FM.  Tom joined his good friend and fellow broadcaster Bob Barrickman in the  was inducted Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame being inducted in the spring of 2019.

Current Beaver County Radio Owner and Station Manager Mark Peterson said “It’s easy to own and operate a station when you’ve had quality people like Tom Hays as part of the team” Peterson said “Tom’s talents behind the microphone will be missed by the listeners of Beaver County Radio”

Program Director Frank Sparks who cut his teeth at Beaver County Radio producing games for Hays said “I had a mojo from the beginning with Tom and we became lifetime friends and I will miss working with Tom. Not many can say they were able to work with a hall of fame broadcaster especially the caliber of a man like Tom Hays. ”

Sports Director and longtime friend Bob Barrickman said “Tom is a tremendous broadcaster. Take his hall of Fame career and multiply that by ten and that is the type of person that Tom Hays is.” Barrickman went on to say that he couldn’t believe that Tom was able to produce at the high level he has despite his health issues. “That just goes to prove the true professional and class act that Tom is.”

We at Beaver County Radio will miss Tom Hay’s and appreciate all that he has done to make Beaver County Radio a success over the last 40 years!!!  He will be deeply missed by us all and we wish him well in the future.

 

You can listen to Tom’s interview Wednesday on Teleforum announcing his retirement by pressing the play button below: