The Philadelphia Inquirer; Friday, December 10, 1993, Section C Page 11:
"Matt Guokas Sr., voice of Eagles; ex-Warrior
By Tim Panaccio
Inquirer Staff Writer
Matt Guokas, Sr., 78, who played for the NBA champion Philadelphia Warriors in the 1946-47 season, and whose rich baritone boomed over the public-address system of the Philadelphia Eagles for more than three decades, died last night at St. Joseph Villa, a nursing home in Flourtown. Mr. Guokas had been ill since June, when he broke a hip in a fall at his Center City home. Mr. Guokas' son, Matt Guokas, Jr., also played for an NBA championship team, the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers, and later coached the Sixers for three seasons. In October, saying he wanted to follow his father's career path, Guokas Jr. quit his front-office job with the Orlando Magic to join NBC as the network's analyst on NBA games. Mr. Guokas' athletic caeer ended abruptly when he lost his right leg in an automobile accident June 23, 1947, and he turned to broadcasting. Beginning in the late 1940s, Mr. Guokas was sports director at WPEN radio for 18 years. He started announcing Eagles games in 1953. Along with former WCAU broadcaster John Facenda, who did voiceovers for NFL Films, Mr. Guokas became the voice most associated with the Eagles. From 1953 to 1985, he called games at Shibe Park, Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium. "He did a great job over the years," said Jimmy Gallagher, former director of public relations for the Eagles. "We never got big crowds at Shibe Park, but he did every one of our games. He was one of the most recognized voices in the city." In high school, Mr. Guokas was one of three original members of the famed 'Mighty Mites' of Roman Catholic, a group of diminutive basketball players coached by Bill Markward in 1932-34. At 6-foot-2, Mr. Guokas was the tallest of the 'Mites' and played center. The others were Dan Kenney and John McMenamin, both deceased. All three attended St. Joseph's College, where the Mites helped the basketball team itself with Big Five fans by winning 54 of 71 games between 1934 and 1938. To compensate for their lack of height, the Mites employes crisp passing, a smothering defense and a bagful of tricks. "They held your pants, stepped on your feet," Ed 'Dutch' Doyle, a longtime fan, recalled in a 1990 Inquirer interview. Andy Dougherty, a longtime St. Joe's sports information director, said of Mr. Guokas: "Matt was a great passer off the tipoff, and they had a very good passing team. A big, strong guy, a nice gentleman." Mr. Guokas was named to the St. Joe's Hall of Fame in 1974. Mr. Guokas is survived by his wife, Joan Burnham Guokas; a daughter, Mary Ann Massarella; his son; six grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. A viewing will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Villa on West Wissahickon Avenue in Flourtown. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham."
"Matt Guokas Sr., voice of Eagles; ex-Warrior
By Tim Panaccio
Inquirer Staff Writer
Matt Guokas, Sr., 78, who played for the NBA champion Philadelphia Warriors in the 1946-47 season, and whose rich baritone boomed over the public-address system of the Philadelphia Eagles for more than three decades, died last night at St. Joseph Villa, a nursing home in Flourtown. Mr. Guokas had been ill since June, when he broke a hip in a fall at his Center City home. Mr. Guokas' son, Matt Guokas, Jr., also played for an NBA championship team, the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers, and later coached the Sixers for three seasons. In October, saying he wanted to follow his father's career path, Guokas Jr. quit his front-office job with the Orlando Magic to join NBC as the network's analyst on NBA games. Mr. Guokas' athletic caeer ended abruptly when he lost his right leg in an automobile accident June 23, 1947, and he turned to broadcasting. Beginning in the late 1940s, Mr. Guokas was sports director at WPEN radio for 18 years. He started announcing Eagles games in 1953. Along with former WCAU broadcaster John Facenda, who did voiceovers for NFL Films, Mr. Guokas became the voice most associated with the Eagles. From 1953 to 1985, he called games at Shibe Park, Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium. "He did a great job over the years," said Jimmy Gallagher, former director of public relations for the Eagles. "We never got big crowds at Shibe Park, but he did every one of our games. He was one of the most recognized voices in the city." In high school, Mr. Guokas was one of three original members of the famed 'Mighty Mites' of Roman Catholic, a group of diminutive basketball players coached by Bill Markward in 1932-34. At 6-foot-2, Mr. Guokas was the tallest of the 'Mites' and played center. The others were Dan Kenney and John McMenamin, both deceased. All three attended St. Joseph's College, where the Mites helped the basketball team itself with Big Five fans by winning 54 of 71 games between 1934 and 1938. To compensate for their lack of height, the Mites employes crisp passing, a smothering defense and a bagful of tricks. "They held your pants, stepped on your feet," Ed 'Dutch' Doyle, a longtime fan, recalled in a 1990 Inquirer interview. Andy Dougherty, a longtime St. Joe's sports information director, said of Mr. Guokas: "Matt was a great passer off the tipoff, and they had a very good passing team. A big, strong guy, a nice gentleman." Mr. Guokas was named to the St. Joe's Hall of Fame in 1974. Mr. Guokas is survived by his wife, Joan Burnham Guokas; a daughter, Mary Ann Massarella; his son; six grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. A viewing will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Villa on West Wissahickon Avenue in Flourtown. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham."
The Philadelphia Inquirer; Friday, December 10, 1993, Section C Page 11:
"Matt Guokas Sr., voice of Eagles; ex-Warrior
By Tim Panaccio
Inquirer Staff Writer
Matt Guokas, Sr., 78, who played for the NBA champion Philadelphia Warriors in the 1946-47 season, and whose rich baritone boomed over the public-address system of the Philadelphia Eagles for more than three decades, died last night at St. Joseph Villa, a nursing home in Flourtown. Mr. Guokas had been ill since June, when he broke a hip in a fall at his Center City home. Mr. Guokas' son, Matt Guokas, Jr., also played for an NBA championship team, the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers, and later coached the Sixers for three seasons. In October, saying he wanted to follow his father's career path, Guokas Jr. quit his front-office job with the Orlando Magic to join NBC as the network's analyst on NBA games. Mr. Guokas' athletic caeer ended abruptly when he lost his right leg in an automobile accident June 23, 1947, and he turned to broadcasting. Beginning in the late 1940s, Mr. Guokas was sports director at WPEN radio for 18 years. He started announcing Eagles games in 1953. Along with former WCAU broadcaster John Facenda, who did voiceovers for NFL Films, Mr. Guokas became the voice most associated with the Eagles. From 1953 to 1985, he called games at Shibe Park, Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium. "He did a great job over the years," said Jimmy Gallagher, former director of public relations for the Eagles. "We never got big crowds at Shibe Park, but he did every one of our games. He was one of the most recognized voices in the city." In high school, Mr. Guokas was one of three original members of the famed 'Mighty Mites' of Roman Catholic, a group of diminutive basketball players coached by Bill Markward in 1932-34. At 6-foot-2, Mr. Guokas was the tallest of the 'Mites' and played center. The others were Dan Kenney and John McMenamin, both deceased. All three attended St. Joseph's College, where the Mites helped the basketball team itself with Big Five fans by winning 54 of 71 games between 1934 and 1938. To compensate for their lack of height, the Mites employes crisp passing, a smothering defense and a bagful of tricks. "They held your pants, stepped on your feet," Ed 'Dutch' Doyle, a longtime fan, recalled in a 1990 Inquirer interview. Andy Dougherty, a longtime St. Joe's sports information director, said of Mr. Guokas: "Matt was a great passer off the tipoff, and they had a very good passing team. A big, strong guy, a nice gentleman." Mr. Guokas was named to the St. Joe's Hall of Fame in 1974. Mr. Guokas is survived by his wife, Joan Burnham Guokas; a daughter, Mary Ann Massarella; his son; six grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. A viewing will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Villa on West Wissahickon Avenue in Flourtown. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham."
"Matt Guokas Sr., voice of Eagles; ex-Warrior
By Tim Panaccio
Inquirer Staff Writer
Matt Guokas, Sr., 78, who played for the NBA champion Philadelphia Warriors in the 1946-47 season, and whose rich baritone boomed over the public-address system of the Philadelphia Eagles for more than three decades, died last night at St. Joseph Villa, a nursing home in Flourtown. Mr. Guokas had been ill since June, when he broke a hip in a fall at his Center City home. Mr. Guokas' son, Matt Guokas, Jr., also played for an NBA championship team, the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers, and later coached the Sixers for three seasons. In October, saying he wanted to follow his father's career path, Guokas Jr. quit his front-office job with the Orlando Magic to join NBC as the network's analyst on NBA games. Mr. Guokas' athletic caeer ended abruptly when he lost his right leg in an automobile accident June 23, 1947, and he turned to broadcasting. Beginning in the late 1940s, Mr. Guokas was sports director at WPEN radio for 18 years. He started announcing Eagles games in 1953. Along with former WCAU broadcaster John Facenda, who did voiceovers for NFL Films, Mr. Guokas became the voice most associated with the Eagles. From 1953 to 1985, he called games at Shibe Park, Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium. "He did a great job over the years," said Jimmy Gallagher, former director of public relations for the Eagles. "We never got big crowds at Shibe Park, but he did every one of our games. He was one of the most recognized voices in the city." In high school, Mr. Guokas was one of three original members of the famed 'Mighty Mites' of Roman Catholic, a group of diminutive basketball players coached by Bill Markward in 1932-34. At 6-foot-2, Mr. Guokas was the tallest of the 'Mites' and played center. The others were Dan Kenney and John McMenamin, both deceased. All three attended St. Joseph's College, where the Mites helped the basketball team itself with Big Five fans by winning 54 of 71 games between 1934 and 1938. To compensate for their lack of height, the Mites employes crisp passing, a smothering defense and a bagful of tricks. "They held your pants, stepped on your feet," Ed 'Dutch' Doyle, a longtime fan, recalled in a 1990 Inquirer interview. Andy Dougherty, a longtime St. Joe's sports information director, said of Mr. Guokas: "Matt was a great passer off the tipoff, and they had a very good passing team. A big, strong guy, a nice gentleman." Mr. Guokas was named to the St. Joe's Hall of Fame in 1974. Mr. Guokas is survived by his wife, Joan Burnham Guokas; a daughter, Mary Ann Massarella; his son; six grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. A viewing will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Villa on West Wissahickon Avenue in Flourtown. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham."
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