In March of 1987 Jerry Allen was at a crossroads in his career.
The Medford radio station where he had been general manager for the past few years was under new ownership, leaving Allen looking to make a career change. Except he didn’t know where he would go or what he would do.
But soon after, he received a phone call from Bill Byrne, then the University of Oregon athletic director, who offered him a job as the play-by-play announcer for the Ducks.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Allen said. “It was a dream come true.”
He recalls the conversation with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. After more than 12 successful years as the “Voice of the Ducks,” Allen still feels as flattered as he did on that fateful March day.
“I was in shock,” Allen said. “I remember hanging up the phone and sitting back staring off into space thinking, ‘Did that really happen? Does he really want me?’”
It marked the beginning of a beautiful partnership between the Ducks and Allen, a devout Christian, family man and the longest running play-by-play announcer in Oregon’s history. There is perhaps no person more synonymous with the Ducks than Allen.
Allen grew up in the small southern Oregon town of Grants Pass. He wanted to be an athlete, but his small 5-foot-11, 125-pound frame and limited athletic ability hindered him from becoming anything more than a team manager.
And because sports are a big thing in a small town like Grants Pass, Allen just wanted to be a part of it. Little did he know how big a role he would eventually have in Oregon sports.
Ironically, Allen had no desire or dream of being a radio personality. He was randomly offered a position doing odd jobs in a record store and as a gopher at KAGI, a local radio station. During his senior year of high school Allen gained his first on-air experience doing a weather report.
“I was scared to death,” he said. “My voice was so high I’m not sure people realized it was me or a female — but still that was the biggest thing that had ever happened in my life. I was on the radio.”
After a few weeks, Allen calmed his nerves, got his feet under him and suddenly became southern Oregon’s youngest disc jockey. He worked weekends as a part-time DJ and was becoming an overnight celebrity while attending high school. By the fall after his senior year, Allen faced a tough decision: attend college or continue his career as a disc jockey.
But Allen had found his niche. It was in radio.
“I didn’t want to give it up,” he said. “I realized ‘Wow, this could be what I want to do for the rest of my life.’”
During the next three years, Allen commuted from Grants Pass to Ashland to attend Southern Oregon State College in pursuit of a teaching degree. At the same time, he continued to develop his skills at KAGI. Allen bounced back and forth between Medford, Grants Pass and Ashland during the next four years looking for ways to better himself and his radio career.
His career titles advanced to include music director, program director and general manager, along with hosting various morning talk shows. With each move, Allen stepped up in salary and position. Yet despite all of his success, he didn’t quite feel that he had reached that long-term goal he was looking for.
It wasn’t until the early 1970s when he was transferred back to Medford to KYJC that Allen found his true calling. The station began broadcasting local Medford High football games and needed somebody to do play-by-play calls.
“Let me try it,” Allen said, remembering his reaction with a smile. “It was just kind of a ‘Let’s see how I can do.’ I just fell in love with it.”
And listeners fell in love with him.
Shortly thereafter, Allen caught the eye of local television station KOBI, which made him its sports anchor in 1977. As Allen’s popularity spread, he caught the eye of another director as well, but this time it was Oregon athletic director Bill Byrne.
In 1985 they needed someone to fill in for a few basketball games because the current Ducks broadcaster, Hal Ramey, was in Japan for a bowl game. Allen made a lasting impression on Byrne.
“He had a great knowledge of Oregon sports,” Byrne said in an August interview published in the Fighting Ducks Review. “And I liked his enthusiasm. It was infectious.”
Two years later the Ducks were searching for a new play-by-play announcer and there was no question who Byrne wanted for the job.
“Jerry was the guy we wanted — and we knew he would do anything to promote Oregon athletics,” Byrne said.
Allen seized the opportunity with the hope that Eugene would be the place he would finish out his career. But when he realized that Oregon had changed play-by-play announcers about every two years, he became a little worried.
“I’m thinking, ‘What have I got myself into?’” Allen said. “They all told me ‘Keep your bags packed, you won’t last two years. They’ll make a change.’”
But it never happened. The public had embraced Allen with a love as deep as Jerry’s was for Eugene and the Ducks.
“I can’t think of any other job I would want to do,” Allen said. “This is it — [getting hired] was hitting the jackpot, my biggest dream come true.”
Jerry Allen’s role in the community is immeasurable. He’s involved with countless charity events, including the Children’s Miracle Network and helping fight Muscular dystrophy. Allen can also be heard giving inspirational talks at the Eugene Faith Center, a local church.
“He really is a blessing to the life of our community. He contributes so much,” said Steve Overman, Pastor of the Eugene Faith Center.
What sets Jerry Allen apart from other announcers is the emotion in his voice as he calls each play.
“It’s like you have this friend at the game sitting beside you and they’re blind,” Allen said. “They can hear the noise and the cheering but they can’t see, so I try to explain to them as simply as I can exactly what’s going on and with genuine excitement.”
What is most unique about Jerry can’t be learned from any book or class — it is his passion for the Ducks.
“I’m genuinely excited because I’m a Duck,” he said. “I always have been.”
Others agree.
“His real love for Oregon athletics makes him unique, it’s infectious,” said Dave Heeke, University director of broadcasting. “He’s just a great person.”
So just how long will Allen remain the “Voice of the Ducks”?
“We hope Jerry Allen is the voice of the Ducks for a long, long time,” said Heeke.