October 23, 2010
Mary Meaux
The Port Arthur News
PORT NECHES — James “Tip” Durham, considered “the voice of the Indians,” has died.
For more than four decades countless football fans heard the words “Bon soir mes amis. Laissez les bon temps roulet” or “Good evening, friends. Let the good times roll!” — uttered in Durham’s deep, rich voice. That voice fell silent Thursday.
The 77-year-old Durham announced during Port Neches-Groves sporting events until two years ago when he opted to scale down his duties to announcing for the Indian Band during its halftime performances because of failing health.
Pat Briggs, student activities director at the high school, has known Durham for about 40 years, she said.
“We lost a legend,” Briggs said.
Durham began announcing at junior varsity games in 1963 and moved to announcing at varsity games in 1966.
“He was a true gentleman and loved everything about the district,” she said. “He was a dedicated community member and there wasn’t anybody who didn’t know him.”
Durham was such a devoted fan that he donned purple cowboy boots and hat for his Friday night announcement gigs and traveled with the team for out-of-town games in order to be the voice of the Indians.
John DeVillier of Groves, a long time friend of Durham and former sports writer, shared an anecdote.
“Tip was the center on Gene McCollum’s 1949 and 1950 teams. One of his favorite stories, repeated maybe a 100 times, took place in a game at Nacogdoches. The Indians were backed up to their four-yard-line and quarterback Bobby Trahan was deep in the end zone for a fourth down punt. ‘Bobby dropped the ball, then picked it up and ran 96-yards for a touchdown,’ Durham recalled. When they went to the sidelines, Coach McCollum asked, ‘What happened?’ Trahan hesitated momentarily, believing he was going to be chewed out. Then, according to Tip, he said, ‘uh, bad snap.’”
Durham was a football line standout as an Indian before PN-G became PN-G. He served as an all-district center for the Port Neches Indians in 1950. A Vice-President of his senior class, Durham graduated at Port Neches in 1951.
His communication skills began to surface as a Groves Middle School teacher after completion of his education. His flair to entertain also included singing and playing the guitar which occasionally would be performed right during U.S. History classes.
Port Arthur News sports writer Tom Halliburton met Durham for the first time at Indian Stadium’s press box in 1978 prior to the Nederland at PN-G game. The mutual friendship between the two has grown for more than 30 years.
“As announcers go, Tip is sort of how Bum Phillips described Earl Campbell,” Halliburton said. “If he’s not in a class by himself, it doesn’t take long to call roll. Fans and sports followers of all kinds will remember his voice forever.”
Mitch Murdock replaced Durham as football play-by-play public-address announcer at the start of the 2009 season. Yet Murdock has continued to remind PN-G fans of Durham’s greatness during each halftime show by echoing Tip’s legendary, deep line, ‘Laiseez les bon temps roulette.’
Associated Press writer Paul Weber featured Durham in a series called Texas Traditions in 2007 describing how players who heard Durham announce their names in the 1970s, including former Indians coach Matt Burnett, now hear him bellow the names of their sons.
“I figured I’d do it as long as they’d let me,” Durham said in the 2007 interview. “That’s turned out to be a long time. I’ve never really thought about quitting.”
Durham impressed the reporter by describing plays from decades ago and naming the head coaches he’s outlasted from the press box. That list includes former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips, who led the Indians for two seasons in the 1960s.
Plus, he had announced games at nearly every landmark stadium in the state, including Texas Stadium, where he saw 40,000 fans for the 1977 state final against Plano. He’s also been in the booth at the Astrodome, Kyle Field and Reliant Stadium, according to the 2007 article.
Durham’s family has setup a scholarship fund to benefit a Port Neches-Groves student. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Mid-County Teachers Credit Union, account 38163, to the Tip Durham Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Funeral arrangements are pending with Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches.
Source: http://panews.com/local/x1744211216/Losing-a-legend-Durham-Voice-of-the-Indians-dies
