Randy Smith: The Service John Ward Didn't Want

When my wife Shelia and I drove to Knoxville yesterday for John Ward's memorial service, I was very confident that the Vol Network would provide a solemn yet entertaining service for college sports all-time best announcer. The Vol Network hit it out of the park. There were pictures and videos , some we've seen and some we've never seen before. There were speakers who stood on the stage and shed tears as they expressed their love for the "Voice of the Vols" who passed away on June 20th. People like Charles Davis, a former Vol who is a nationally known and well respected sports broadcaster for Fox Sports,  Mike Keith, the "Voice of the Tennessee Titans", Steve Early the General Manager of the Vol Network and the best speech was given by Ben Bates. Bates was introduced as the closest thing to a grandson that John Ward ever had. 

The service was upbeat, funny and very respectful of the legendary Ward, but it was a service he never wanted. During the final months of his life, Ward refused to even discuss a memorial service of any kind.  His closest friends granted his wish for a private burial but they really struggled with a way to honor him and to allow his many fans to pay homage. Steve Early said the event last night was a celebration of his life and not a memorial service. At least that's the way Steve presented it. The bottom line was, John Ward was a very humble, yet a very private person.

What made this evening so special was this very important fact; even though it had been 19 years since his voice was heard on radio, he still had literally thousands of people who worshiped him. There are students at the University of Tennessee who weren't even born when Ward uttered the phrase, " The national champion is clad in Big Orange." in his final football broadcast. 

John Ward always took time to allow Tennessee fans to show their love and appreciation for him. He would sign every autograph, pose for every picture requested and stand and talk with anyone for as long as they wanted. He was asked several times if he really understood how loved he was by the Big Orange nation. He said he did, but I believe he never really grasped how much love and adoration they had for him until he was introduced for the final time at Neyland Stadium last November. As the crowd stood and roared for several minutes, you could see it on John's face. He was deeply moved and I believe for the first time he really understood just how much he meant to them.

On the front of the program there was a picture of John Ward, complete with his trademark blue towel and this quote. "  The Vol Network is not an announcer who talks. It's the people who listen." Yes, John Ward was so important to so many people. But, those same people were even more important to him.