All they had to do was play the video.
A fantastic celebration of life was held for Woody Durham Sunday afternoon in Carmichael, one of the venues where the Voice of the Tar Heels called Carolina games from 1971 through 2011 – 40 years on the nose.
The speeches were terrific, from Dick Baddour using lines of the UNC alma mater as metaphors for Woody’s career; John Bunting saying how Woody stayed terminally positive while his Tar Heel football program was dying; Eric Montross admitting how bad he was as a radio rookie and how Woody patiently mentored him to the real pro he is today; John Swofford kidding that you had to be a good listener around Woody because he always did the talking; to oldest son Wes, who teased his dad lovingly and thanked a long list of people who helped put the wonderful celebration together.
Roy Williams spoke on a recorded message, apologizing for having to be out recruiting and then telling everyone to take Woody’s advice and go home to watch the back nine of the Masters. Ol’ Roy seemed he would be doing just that.
Jones Angell was classy as ever as MC, and Holden Thorp came back to play the electric organ while Terry Houston sang a beautiful hymn and led us all in “Carolina On My Mind” to close.
But, as only Woody Durham could do it, he still upstaged every speaker and thrilled the estimated 1,000 people in attendance. Bob Ellis of the UNC new media staff put together great highlights with snippets and stills of Woody’s career as the umbilical cord for thousands of Carolina fans on, as Woody used to say, those beautiful fall Saturdays and cold winter nights.
Seeing the highlights with Woody’s voice behind them will be the most lasting take-away of the 90-minute celebration. How he got freshman Michael Jordan to say he was feeling no pressure, then cut to a shot with Woody’s call of MJ beating Georgetown for Dean Smith’s first title in ’82.
The audience listened to Woody emotionally describe Kelvin Bryant scoring a touchdown and running over to give the ball to ex-Heel Steve Streater in his wheel chair. Every highlight was a show stopper and new memory maker.
Woody, rest in peace. You stole the show, pal.
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