[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING STAN TORGERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, today, Mississippi pays her respect to a 
man whose career in journalism and media spanned seven decades: he was 
``The Voice'' of the Ole Miss Rebels for 17 years, he counted sports 
legends and musical stars as his friends, and any elected official in 
Mississippi whom he called was certain to respond in person. Today, 
Meridian buries a great citizen of our State: Stan Torgerson.
  Stan passed away at Rush Hospital in Meridian on Monday night at the 
age of 82, still active in his lifelong media career. He told the 
Meridian Star last year, ``I will continue to work as long as I think I 
can be productive. I believe in work ethic. I work for three reasons: 
(1) It's fun; (2) I think I am reasonably good at it; and, (3) It gives 
me something to do that I enjoy doing. For me, it's not just a way of 
adding to my income. It's fun.''
  Stan began his fun work after returning from service in the Navy 
during World War II. He became a sports broadcaster and disc jockey and 
moved into radio management. He worked markets in Memphis, Miami, and 
San Diego and purchased WQIC in Meridian in 1968. While in Memphis, 
Stan developed a friendship with Sam Phillips and pumped the Sun 
Records sound over the airwaves as he got to know personally the likes 
of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. During his sports broadcasting he 
interviewed Babe Ruth, called games with Hank Aaron playing, and 
jointly called a game with Harry Caray. Stan used to say ``I like to 
watch the game on the radio. The pictures are better.''
  For 17 years Stan called play-by-play for Ole Miss basketball; and 
did the same for 15 years for Ole Miss football. He called about 450 
basketball games and 185 football games. As noted during WTOK's 
tributes to Stan, he was inducted into the National Football Foundation 
Hall of Fame and was recognized by the Jackson Touchdown Club as one of 
the Four Most Famous Voices in Mississippi Sports. He also received an 
Award of Merit from the Ole Miss Alumni Association. He served as an 
elector on the Heisman Trophy Committee and was appointed chairman of 
the Mississippi Heisman Trophy Committee in 1993 and served in that 
capacity for 12 years. In 2005, Stan was appointed by Governor Haley 
Barbour to a 6-year term on the Mississippi Athletic Commission.
  After retiring from his radio station, Stan went to work first as a 
sports stringer and later as a reporter for the Meridian Star. After 
several years in print, he moved to WTOK television in Meridian where 
he worked until his retirement last month. As a journalist Stan was 
known for hard and insightful questions, but delivered in a fair and 
honest manner. As a friend, I knew Stan as a man of wit and wisdom. 
Even in retirement, he continued writing his syndicated sports and 
culture columns and hosted a monthly wine tasting.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope this Congress joins me in remembering Stan 
Torgerson and expressing our sympathy to his wife of 59 years, Dorothy, 
and the families of his children Barbara and Larry Stan. For over half 
a century the airwaves of our country carried the sound of Stan's 
voice. It is silent now, but the memories will continue to be as vivid 
as those pictures he painted on the radio.

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