The 'Golden Voice' that narrated America's most improbable sports moments

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From the chaos of a broken skate lace at the Olympics to the desperate heave of a Hail Mary, Verne Lundquist has spent decades translating raw athletic adrenaline into human drama. His career is defined by the precise moment when a game transcends sport and becomes a story.

Lundquist’s broadcasting pedigree began with a literal 'Golden Voice.' Born in Duluth, Minnesota, and raised in Texas, he attended Augustana Seminary in 1962 where his distinctive vocal quality was noted as the highlight of his preaching class. This foundation eventually led him to become one of the most recognizable voices in American sports, spanning decades at ABC, CBS, and TNT.

His career is anchored by high-stakes narratives. He joined the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network in 1967, remaining with the team until 1984. During this era, he helped narrate their journey to Super Bowl XII. Later, his national profile soared as he called iconic events like the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics. In 1994, he famously described the 'bizarre real life movie' of the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan skating debacle, which drew television ratings comparable to the Super Bowl.

Lundquist is perhaps most synonymous with college football and golf. From 2000 to 2016, he served as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS’s coverage of the SEC. His calls captured some of the sport's most enduring highlights: Christian Laettner’s buzzer-beater in 1992, the 'Kick Six' at Auburn in 2013, and Tiger Woods' dramatic chip-in birdie at the 2005 Masters.

Even his catchphrases have a lineage. His famous exclamation, 'How do you DO!', was actually borrowed from Pete Arbogast, who had inherited it from the venerable Vin Scully. Today, Lundquist remains an active commentator, continuing to call the Masters Tournament—an event he has covered for CBS for 40 years.

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