From 1927 through 1973, the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium had two public address voices. Paul and Howard “Tiz” Bresee, the sons of Mattoon’s Byrd and Bertha Bresee, reported the runs of Buddy Young, J.C. Caroline and Jim Grabowski, the passes of Perry Moss, Tommy O’Connell and Mike Wells, the tackles of Dick Butkus and the interceptions of Al Brosky.
Together, through the stadium’s speakers, the Bresees described the action at many of the greatest Illini football seasons, including Big Ten championship campaigns in 1927 and ’28, 1946, 1951 and ’53, and 1963.
Born on July 1, 1901, Paul Bresee was a diversified business executive who graduated from Illinois in 1923.