While working atop a telephone pole on a raw winter day inNantucket shortly after his discharge from the Navy in 1946, DonGillis remembered the advice from a teachers at New Bedford's HolyFamily High School.
'The nun told him `Donald Gillis, God has given you the gift of apleasant voice. It would be a shame to waste it,' ' recalledGillis's son Gary, of Needham. 'Well, it didn't take him long to getoff that pole and enroll in the Leland Powers School of Radio,Television and Theater.'
In 1951, following a short stint at New Bedford radio stationWBSM, Mr. Gillis was hired by WHDH radio in Boston through an openaudition, launching a legendary career that included broadcastinggames of the city's four professional sports teams and becomingBoston's first television sports anchor at WHDH (now WCVB-TV, Ch.5), in 1962.
'They [the viewers] were kind enough to invite me into theirhouses every night,' Mr. Gillis once said. 'The least I could do wasgive them a reason to ask me back.'
Mr. Gillis, who was also sports director at WCVB-TV from 1972 to1983 and hosted a popular candlepin bowling show for nearly 40years, died Wednesday at 85 in Falmouth. He had battled Alzheimer'sdisease in recent years, according to his son.
'Don Gillis wrote the blueprint for local sportscasting, which Iuse to this very day,' said current Channel 5 sports anchor MikeLynch, who came to the station in 1982. 'He left an enormously largepair of shoes which I am still trying to fill, and he remains theconscience of our sports department.'
As a salute in last evening's broadcast, Lynch vacated the sportsanchor desk in honor of Mr. Gillis, whose picture appeared onscreen.
In a statement, WCVB remembered Mr. Gillis as 'the dean of Bostontelevision sports.'
'Don was a beloved and founding member of the Channel 5 family,'the station said. 'Generations of local viewers grew up watchingDon. A true Boston legend, he leaves a legacy of warmth, humor, andmentorship to the many who followed in his footsteps.'
In the days before videotape and satellite dishes, Mr. Gillisenjoyed the challenge of providing film and up-to-date informationnightly, and his efforts resulted in eight consecutive MassachusettsSportscaster of the Year awards.
According to his family, he considered the opportunity to callthe 1969 Harvard-Yale 29-29 tie and Bob Cousy's 50-point performancefor the Celtics in a quadruple overtime victory against Syracuse in1953 his biggest broadcasting thrills.
Jeff Twiss, the Celtics spokesman, described Mr. Gillis as 'atrue gentleman and true professional at his craft. The players andcoaches really gravitated toward him because of his honesty andfairness. You always felt comfortable around him, and Red Auerbachalways said `You're always going to get a fair shake from DonGillis.''
Born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Donald A. Gillis moved with hisfamily to New Bedford, where he played football and basketball atHoly Family. He worked for New England Telephone & Telegraph Co.prior to enlisting in the service. As a fire control officer on theUSS Missouri, he was an eyewitness to the Japanese surrenderceremonies.
During the 1957 baseball season, Mr. Gillis joined the Red Soxbroadcast team when lead announcer Curt Gowdy was recuperating froma back injury. He also hosted a popular weekly sports talk show,'The Voice of Sports,' before his debut as a sports anchor inOctober 1962, the same night that Johnny Carson began his stint on'The Tonight Show.' WHDH expanded its 11 p.m. news program,sponsored by Texaco, from 15 to 30 minutes to incorporate itsweather and sports segments.
'They wanted my dad to wear a Texaco uniform on the set and payhim an extra $15,' said his son, a former Boston television sportsreporter at Channel 7. 'But he refused and with five children athome, that was hard to do. I think he was most proud of hisversatility and of the mutual respect between himself and theindividuals he reported on. He understood they operated in a uniqueenvironment.'
Former Red Sox player and manager Johnny Pesky appreciated thatprofessionalism.
'Don was a rookie announcer who got better and better,' Peskysaid. 'And of course, he had that good voice. He asked goodquestions, he was straight with everybody and made everyone feelcomfortable, and that made him welcome in the manager's office andlocker room. '
In addition to his son, Mr. Gillis, a longtime Needham resident,leaves his wife, Kathy (McGarry) of Falmouth; another son, Richard,and three daughters, Donna Atwood, Peggy Guillet, and NancySanderson, all of Needham; a stepson, Bernard McGarry of Falmouth;his former wife, Barbara Gillis of Needham, a brother, Hugh, ofKaty, Texas; and 12 grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be said Tuesday at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick'sChurch in Falmouth. Burial will be in the Massachusetts NationalCemetery in Bourne.
