Holliday Honored At Legends of Broadcasting Dinner
11/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Terrapin Athletics
COLLEGE PARK, Md.- Broadcasting legend Johnny Holliday was honored at the National Press Club's “Legend in Broadcasting” dinner on Monday, Nov 21.
The voice of the Terrapins for the past 38 seasons, Holliday received the prestigious honor at a dinner in the Winner's Room of the Fourth Estate Restaurant in Washington D.C.
“The National Press Club is such a prestigious organization,” said Holliday. “To be part of this ceremony was unbelievable. The people were gracious. You walk around the club seeing all the pictures in the hall of the people that have been down there, it was wonderful. They were just the most delightful people.”
The 60-year broadcast veteran discussed his career in a roundtable setting and was introduced by former WWDC colleague Camille Bohannon. Holliday recapped his career which began in the music business, spanning from San Francisco to Cleveland, and then moved to sports broadcasting where he has covered a wide span of Washington D.C. teams.
As the play-by-play voice of the University of Maryland, Holliday has broadcasted more than 1,400 Terrapin football and basketball games, including 13 bowl games, 11 Sweet Sixteen's and two final four appearances. Holliday believes the time that concurs with his “Legend in Broadcasting” honor is an exciting time to be a Terps fan.
“The football team is going to a bowl game, the basketball team playing as well as they've been playing, it's been a fabulous year,” said Holliday. “The basketball team is only going to get better; they are such a young team. To go to a bowl in Durkin's first year is amazing. It's been a great year. Better things are only to come.”
Holliday has been inducted into the Radio Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2003, was given the Lindsay Nelson Outstanding Sportscaster award in 2005, was honored by the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame with the Chris Scenkel award in 2006 and was inducted into the Washington D.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Out of all the honors and recognition he's received in his illustrious career, Holliday says this honor stands out.
“Of all the things that I've been able to be recognized with this would have to be up there near the top,” said Holliday. “They showed all the other people they saluted down there at these dinners, I'm in pretty good company.”
