February 13, 2022 ~ Broadcasting veteran and longtime WJR host Frank Beckmann died Saturday night at a hospice center in Clarkston.
Beckmann, who spent 48 years on “The Great Voice of The Great Lakes,” started with the station back in 1973 as the newsroom’s youngest-ever reporter.
Equal to his passion for journalism was his love for sports. In the mid-70s, Frank became the station’s sports director, and set to work creating innovative programming such as WJR’s “SportsWrap,” a first-of-its-kind sports talk program.
PODCASTS:
February 13, 2022 ~ WJR’s Chris Renwick offers a eulogy covering the life and legacy of his friend and former co-worker, Frank Beckmann.
Beckmann spent the last 17 years of his career at WJR hosting his late-morning talk program, “The Frank Beckmann Show.”
In addition to his time at WJR, Beckmann spent 33 years calling University of Michigan football games, replacing the great Bob Ufer back in 1981. Frank also served as an announcer for both Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions games.
Frank has received numerous honors, including induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Beckmann was diagnosed in June with vascular dementia, a rare and untreatable brain disease. He also suffered a stroke back in October, which kept him hospitalized for 35 days. Beckman had since suffered four more strokes.
Frank is survived by his wife Karen, son Jonathan, daughter Tori, and grandchildren Pierson, Brooks, and Sawyer.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking instead for donations to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, which is creating the Frank Beckmann Center for Journalism. Learn more and make a contribution at Mackinac.org.
VIDEO:
HARBOR SPRINGS, March 26, 2021 ~ 760 WJR celebrated the career of Frank Beckmann during a live broadcast from Boyne Highlands Resort. The show featured tributes from several special guests, including Jim Brandstatter, Alan Trammel, Kirk Gibson, Ted Nugent, Eric Hipple, and many more.
PHOTOS:
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