When I started in radio 5 or 6 years ago, I would always hear about the work of the legendary Gene Pemberton who had a popular afternoon sports talk show on what used to be "The Ticket 101.7". When I met Gene, I was always struck with how incredibly humble and down to earth he was despite the fact that he had super star athletes and owners of sports teams on speed dial or calling him just to catch up with him. Every time I would come into our studios here in Temple, while the rest of us were hauling around laptops and mountains of papers to prepare for our shows, Gene would just sit in his studio with a copy of The Temple Daily Telegram and prepare for his daily show. It didn't take me very long to understand why this man was so beloved in our community.

That's why its with great sadness that we share this information. Gene Pemberton passed away at the age of 79 over the weekend.

For 28 years Gene was the voice of Temple Wildcat football calling games until 1986. He also made Major League Baseball history becoming the first full time chaplain for the Houston Astros in 1997. He would later join us here at Townsquare Media to do the halftime show during Temple Wildcat Football games on our sister station KTEM and his afternoon sports talk show "Sports Talk Of The Town" on KTEM and KLTD.

It was my personal honor to have known Mr. Pemberton and it was always my pleasure to work with him. On behalf of the Townsquare Media family, we send our condolences to the Pemberton family and everyone who's lives he touched in our area.

Visitation for Gene will be Friday from 6 to 8 PM at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home, 3110 Airport Road.

Gene's memorial will take place this Saturday at the Bethel Assembly of God Church, 22621 SE H.K. Dodgen Loop in Temple. The services will begin at 11 am. 

 

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