Budd Lynch

Frank Joseph James "Budd" Lynch (born August 7, 1917) is the Detroit Red Wings' public address announcer at Joe Louis Arena, a position he has held since 1985. He began his career in 1949 as the team's radio play-by-play announcer. Lynch had been with the Windsor Spitfires when Red Wings' general manager Jack Adams asked him to call the games for his organization.

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Lynch joined the Essex Scottish Regiment of the Canadian Forces during World War II; he lost his right arm during combat.[1]

Returning home from the war, he joined the Red Wings, with the team winning the Stanley Cup during his first season. In fact, Detroit won the Stanley Cup four times during his first five years with the club. He attempted a retirement in 1975, but was brought back to the team by Alex Delvecchio as the Director of Publicity. A second retirement attempt in 1982 failed when Marian Ilitch asked Lynch to stay on at his current position of public address announcer.

His style as public address announcer is "simply relaying information to the crowd, not to act as a cheerleader." He often regards Gordie Howe as the greatest player he has ever seen.

Budd Lynch was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985[2] as a "media honouree" and winner of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award[3]. In 1994, Budd was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. In 2005, Lynch was the recipient of the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, awarded by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. Lynch is a two-time past president of the DSBA and an honorary lifetime member. He remains the Detroit Red Wings PA Announcer, however starting in Fall 2008, he is joined on the PA at Joe Louis Arena by John Fossen.

On November 5, 2009, Lynch was honored at Joe Louis Arena for the 60th anniversary of his first play-by-play television broadcast of a Red Wings game. After the ceremony, the Red Wings prevailed 2-1 over the San Jose Sharks in a shootout, and fans received Budd Lynch Bobbleheads to celebrate the occasion.[4]

He currently resides in Wyandotte, Michigan.