Dick Callahan

Richard J. Callahan (November 11, 1940 – January 29, 2021) was an American public address announcer. He was noted for serving as the PA announcer for the Oakland Athletics from 2005 until 2019. Prior to that, he was the announcer for the Golden State Warriors, the California Golden Bears football, and various sports at Saint Mary's College of California. His parents were Richard and Margaret Callahan, He graduated in 1958, and – intending to become a priest – he went on to study Latin at St. Jerome's College in Waterloo, Ontario. Callahan played for the Waterloo Warriors men's basketball team, He was forced to quit the team in his junior year after simultaneously injuring both of his ankles. It would later merge with another agency in 1993 to become Kosich & Callahan Insurance Services.

Saint Mary's College Callahan was approached by the athletic director and sports information director of Saint Mary's College of California in 1975 about becoming the PA announcer for its football and basketball games. He began announcing games for the college that year. He went on to participate in college life outside of sport, serving on its Board of Regents and establishing a scholarship for Latino students in need. Although he had big shoes to fill – his predecessor was dubbed "the Voice of God" by fans – Callahan himself became an endeared figure. He identified Dallas Braden's perfect game in 2010 and Sean Manaea's no-hitter in 2018 as the two most memorable games with the team. Incidentally, the 1,000th game Callahan announced for the Athletics was Mike Fiers' no-hitter on May 7, 2019. Amelia Schimmel stood in for him as announcer, and Callahan declared his intention to return for the 2021 season.

Callahan died on January 29, 2021, at the age of 80. No cause of death was announced.