Richard J. “Dick” Callahan

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Dick was raised in Avoca, PA, 739 Spring Street, to be exact. The only child of Richard and Margaret Callahan. He was proud of his Pennsylvania Coal Region roots.  He was an altar server for St. Mary’s Church. He started his career selling newspapers outside the “Polish Church” flashing his youthful, impish grin and using the few Polish words he learned to connect with the patrons!  He advanced to collecting tickets at Rocky Glen. Much to his mother’s chagrin, he honed his pool playing skills at Meade’s.

He graduated from St. Mary’s Primary School, Avoca PA, Scranton Preparatory High School and St. Jerome’s University, Waterloo, Canada. His Catholic school education instilled a deep spiritual practice, a desire for lifelong learning, and an understanding of the importance of helping others.  He earned three professional designations from the American College of Financial Services.

His successful career in the Insurance business included time in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Missouri before settling with his family in Northern California. He served as a manager, mentoring new agents, and later founded his own agency. Clients appreciated his care and attention to their needs.

Dick’s career behind the microphone began at St. Jerome’s College. A star was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada when he volunteered for the basketball team as the Public Address announcer. He returned to the Scranton area after college and leapt at the opportunity to provide radio play-by-play for the Scranton Miners.

Dick moved to California in 1975. His radio and public address announcing began at St. Mary’s College in Moraga where he became the voice of the football and basketball Gaels. He was the radio announcer for the San Francisco Pioneers of the first women’s professional basketball league.

Dick was notably recognized as the voice of the Oakland Athletics for 15 years (2005-2020) and the Golden State Warriors for 19 years (1981-2000) as well as nine seasons for California Golden Bears football. He delighted in the unique achievement of announcing at least once for EVERY professional Bay Area sport – Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer and Hockey!

He is known for his signature, “Shhhhooooting Twoooo” free throw call and his instruction for all to drive home “ssssafely.”

He celebrated numerous achievements in the world of public address. A few highlights include announcing MLB’s 19^th perfect game when Dallas Braden shut down the Tampa Bay Rays, on Mother’s Day, 2010, announcing more than 1,000 games for the Oakland A’s, more than 750 games for the Golden State Warriors and serving as a Public Address Announcer for the FIBA World Championship of Basketball in Toronto, Canada 1994.

He passionately supported local youth organizations and charities. Dick generously lent his voice, wit, and warmth to countless Bay Area community organizations as a Keynote Speaker, Emcee and Public Address Announcer.

Although he traveled far from Pennsylvania, Dick regularly described himself as a Happy Camper and proudly stated he was a “kid from Avoca.” One of his final wishes was to be buried where it all started. We delivered him ssssafely home in June 2021.

Receiving this award posthumously is a thrill for his family and friends and they are so thankful for his induction.