- Wes Strader at second-annual Wes Strader Schoolboy Classic.
Broadcaster. Hilltopper. Sports Fanatic. Friend.
That’s who Wes Strader was.
The legendary “Voice of the Hilltoppers” and longtime sports broadcaster passed away Tuesday evening at the age of 79. Strader spent 36 seasons as the radio play-by-play broadcaster for Western Kentucky University football and men’s basketball and is one of the most prominent figures in Kentucky’s sports broadcasting history.
Strader, a Hiseville, Ky. native, was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. Along with his work for WKU, Strader was highly recognized for his involvement with the broadcast of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Sweet Sixteen state boys’ basketball championships.
As he already has a banner hanging in the rafters of E.A. Diddle Arena to honor him, which is the only banner hung across all WKU sports for a non-player or former coach, Strader will continue to be honored around the local high school basketball scene.
The third-annual Wes Strader Schoolboy Classic is set for Saturday, Feb. 10 at Warren Central High School in Bowling Green. As Strader was able attend the first two tournaments, this year he’ll definitely be honored that Saturday with some top high school teams playing the game that he deeply loved.
This year’s Classic features one District 14 team (Warren Central), two Louisville area clubs (Butler, Fern Creek), Region 5 foe John Hardin, Tim Riley’s Owensboro Catholic team, along with Mercer County and Cooper.
Redemption Christian Academy (Mass.) — which features Western Kentucky three-star signee guard Dalano Banton — rounds out the eight-team field.
The Classic will tipoff at 10:30 a.m. with Cooper – which played Bowling Green in the state championship game in 2017 – taking on Redemption Christian Academy. Following that opener, John Hardin and Butler will meet at Noon with Fern Creek and Owensboro Catholic following at 1:30.
In the nightcap, Warren Central will face off against Mercer County at 3 p.m.
Prior to Feb. 10, the late Wes Strader will be laid to rest on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. at Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green. Visitation at Eastwood Baptist Church will be Monday, Jan. 15 from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 10 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be private.
From Sporting Times founder Doug Thompson: “I have had the privilege of knowing Wes Strader for 12 years. Besides being a giant in the broadcasting industry, he was a great mentor to many. Wes was always approachable, kind, thoughtful and loved his WKU Hilltoppers and high school sports. Over the last 12 years, I always enjoyed listening to Wes tell one of his great sports stories. The broadcasting industry has lost a legend, but we have all lost a great man.”
Senior writer Tyler Mansfield can be reached at mansfield.sportingtimes@gmail.com.
