October 22, 2010
Tom Halliburton
The Port Arthur News
PORT NECHES — A public address voice at Port Neches-Groves for 40-plus years, James “Tip” Durham passed away late Thursday night following a lengthy illness.
His distinctive deep tones have rolled through the loud speakers at Indian Stadium since 1963.
The 77-year-old Durham continued to announce during PN-G sporting events until two years ago when he opted to scale down his duties to announcing for the Indian Band during its halftime performances.
Durham actually 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.’
Funeral arrangements were not announced as of noon Friday at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves.
Source: http://panews.com/local/x154640781/PN-G-s-legendary-stadium-announcer-Durham-dead-at-77
