The radio industry and journalists across the U.S. today are paying tribute to Dave Barrett, a veteran reporter for CBS News Radio.
Barrett unexpectedly died Wednesday (9/19) at the of 63.
Barrett was CBS News Radio’s go-to reporter for outdoor events such as music and sports and reported from 10 Olympic Games. He is the recipient of three Edward R. Murrow Awards.
As an anchor of hourly reports, Barrett’s voice was heard daily on hundreds of radio stations across the U.S., including Entercom’s former CBS Radio all-News stations and Alpha Media’s News/Talk KXL-FM in Portland, Ore. He was also the anchor of the World News Roundup Late Edition.
“Dave Barrett was a special kind of broadcaster — one who could transport you to the scene of the story in just a few words,” CBS News Radio GM Craig Swagler said. “He will be dearly missed — both in this newsroom and across the country.”
Barrett joined CBS News Radio in February 2001 from the Fox News Radio Network, where he was News Director beginning in 1998.
Before that, Barrett spent 15 years at ABC Radio News, covering everything from political conventions and hurricanes to the Olympics. Barrett went to the Persian Gulf region twice. He was based in Bahrain during Operation Earnest Will in 1988, where oil tankers transiting the Gulf were escorted to and from Kuwait. He also covered the allied buildup in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield in 1990.
Before shifting to news, Barrett had a prolific career as a sports announcer.
During 1993 and 1994, he reported for ESPN Radio as a commentator for Super Bowls, the NCAA Final Four, the British Open, Wimbledon, the NBA Finals and the Kentucky Derby. His early career in radio included stints in Houston as the play-by-play announcer for the Central Hockey League’s Houston Apollos and an announcer for the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, the Houston Oilers, the former WHA’s Houston Aeros hockey club and the University of Houston. In 1977, he won the Associated Press award for Best Sportscast in Texas.
Barrett was also a fan of the baseball team near his home, the Bridgeport Bluefish of Bridgeport, Conn. Occasionally, he would lend his major voice to the minor league team by announcing their games.
Barrett was born in Buffalo, and is survived by his wife, Joyce, and son, Luke.
