Wyatt Drake treats WEBQ fans to sixth-decade broadcast

HARRISBURG - Wyatt Drake has been an institution when it comes to Harrisburg sports, broadcasting Bulldog games on WEBQ.

It had been a few years since he had called a game, though, according to his son Jeffrey Drake, with whom the elder Drake broadcast side by side for years.

"Dad hadn't done a game for a while, at least not full time" Jeffrey said. "He had helped me a little with some broadcasts, but that several years ago."

That changed in February, when Wyatt and Jeffrey teamed up at the Bulldogs' Valentine's Day home basketball game vs. Benton.

Jeffrey said his father had some serious health issues in the fall of 2019, but after recovering, the opportunity for the Drake duo to broadcast together again became a reality.

"Dad wanted to do it, and of course, I did too," Jeffrey said. "The station was great about letting him do it, and Sherman Owen and Aaron McRoy (regular WEBQ broadcasters) were very gracious about letting us."

Wyatt started broadcasting in the 1970s, Jeffrey said, beginning near the Mattoon and Paris area, before moving to Harrisburg. He's been a mainstay of the Harrisburg sports scene since.

Wyatt celebrated his 70th birthday in January, and Jeffrey said the February broadcast was a personal milestone.

"He was really excited," Jeffrey said, and pointed out that this meant his dad had broadcast in six decades.