Las Vegas City Wire

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) sports fans know Dick Calvert as the "voice of the Rebels."

Calvert recently retired after half a century as public address announcer, according to a news release from the university. That explains why fans heard a different voice announcing the play-by-play at the UNLV football team's opening game at Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 27. Calvert and his wife Anne sat in guest seats in the press box as fans; he was not in the broadcast booth. He previously called the action for the Rebels at approximately 5,000 events for various sports.

"In the previous 52 seasons, I had never just sat and watched a UNLV game with my wife," Calvert said in the news release. "I've always been working. It was different, but we enjoyed it."

Calvert's outlook on his career started to take a turn while he recovered from COVID-19 in a hospital in December 2020, the news release noted. He approached his rehabilitation with the same gusto he brought to the mic. He returned to his annual gig of announcing for the NBA Summer League games at the Thomas and Mack Center. Then, Calvert decided it was time to retire after covering the university's 2021 football season, 2021-22 men’s basketball season, and another NBA Summer League. 

"After six decades, 52 years, about 5,000 games and events, and at 86 years of age, I believe it's time to drop the mic and step away from UNLV game announcing for some fresh young talent," Calvert said in a news release from the UNLV Rebels. "It's been a super, great ride and I have loved every minute of it. Honestly, this university has done so much more for me and my family than I have ever done for it."

Calvert will continue to use his distinct voice in radio and TV ads and other special projects, according to the news release. Marques Pfaff, who previously worked for UNLV's athletics department, will replace Calvert on the mic.