Jack Drees facts for kids
John Henry Drees (born February 8, 1917 – died July 27, 1988) was a famous American sportscaster. He worked for major TV networks like ABC and CBS. He also worked for many radio and TV stations in Chicago.
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Early Life and His Start in Broadcasting
John Drees was born in Chicago on February 8, 1917. He went to Austin High School and then the University of Iowa. At the university, he was a talented basketball player. He played as a center for the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team and was recognized as one of the best in the Big Ten Conference.
After college, John Drees started his career in radio. He joined WJJD in Chicago in 1938. His first day on the air was May 23, 1938. He helped announce baseball games. Besides baseball, he also called National Football League games. He even announced horse races from Sportsman's Park for WJJD and its sister station WIND. Even though he had never seen a horse race before, he became known as a very accurate and respected horse race announcer.
During World War II, John Drees proudly served in the United States Navy. He spent 35 months in the Navy, with 33 of those months at sea. He was a gunnery officer on a merchant ship and rose to the rank of lieutenant.
Broadcasting After the War
After the war, John Drees went back to WJJD and WIND. However, these stations had stopped covering sports. So, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he continued to announce horse races. He also worked as the Public Relations director for the Los Angeles Dons, a football team. When that football league ended in 1949, he returned to Chicago. He kept calling horse races and college football games.
His Career in Television
National TV Appearances
John Drees first appeared on television as a co-host for a boxing show called Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts. He worked alongside Russ Hodges. In 1963, he announced a world heavyweight boxing match between Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson. This fight was watched by more people than any other TV event up to that time!
In 1954, ABC hired him to announce college football games. Later, in 1960, CBS hired him to call St. Louis Cardinals football games. He also announced Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II for the CBS Radio Network. For CBS, he covered college football, golf, and horse races. He was the announcer for a game in 1971 where a player, Chuck Hughes, sadly collapsed during the game. John Drees later returned to ABC. In 1972, he hosted a short daily broadcast on the American Information Radio Network.
Working in Chicago TV
During the 1960s, John Drees was a familiar voice in Chicago. He broadcast the Illinois state high school basketball tournaments on WGN-TV. He also hosted a sports show on WGN-TV called "Sports Unlimited." From 1968 to 1972, he was the main announcer for Chicago White Sox baseball games on WFLD.
Later Years and Retirement
In 1974, John Drees co-wrote a book with James C. Mullen. It was called Where Is He Now? Sports Heroes of Yesterday - Revisited. From 1977 to 1985, he worked for WKRG-TV in Mobile, Alabama. In 1986, he retired and moved to Dallas.
John Drees passed away on July 27, 1988, at his home in Dallas. He was 71 years old and died from cancer.
His Family Life
John Drees married his wife, Mary, on August 16, 1939. They had three children together. His son, Brian Drees, also became a sportscaster. Brian worked for KMGH in Denver.
