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8/9/2006 Former Commodore Players Rally to Establish Paul Eells Memorial Scholarship Fund at Vanderbilt Several former Commodore student-athletes have rallied to establish a memorial scholarship fund at Vanderbilt in honor of former radio play-by-play announcer Paul Eells who passed away recently in Arkansas. A sports director at WSM radio and television in Nashville from 1967-1978, Eells also served as the “Voice of the Commodores,” calling Vanderbilt football and basketball contests. Several members of Vanderbilt basketball’s famed “F-Troop” from the mid-1970s – including Butch Feher, Jeff Fosnes and Joe Ford – along with teammate Dickie Keffer have moved to form an athletic scholarship fund to commemorate Eells’ contributions to the university. The group encourages all former Commodore student-athletes who were impacted by Eells to contribute. “Paul was the type of person that made you feel like you were his best friend,” said Keffer, who played basketball for the Commodores from 1975 to 1977. “As a student and player at Vanderbilt I found him to be someone very generous and gracious. He was one of those rare people that made an impact on everyone he came in contact with.” “The irony of this is we never got to hear him broadcast a game,” Butch Fehr said. “We never heard his signature ‘Holy Smokes.’ But, he was a gentleman in every way and was well respected by everyone, especially the players and coaches.” Eells was serving as the sports director at Little Rock’s KATV and had spent the past 28 years at the University of Arkansas as the “Voice of the Razorbacks” for football and basketball games. He was named Arkansas Sportscaster of the Year 11 times. He died in a car accident near Russellville, Ark. on July 31. Those interested in contributing to the fund are encouraged to send checks payable to Vanderbilt University to the address listed below: Make checks payable to: Vanderbilt University |
