I just saw this posted on Facebook. rlh always was a fair-minded poster and supporter of Valpo sports. Hen mentioned that he was battling cancer -- I didn't realize the severity of his condition.
Valpo Football
Valpo Football mourns the loss of broadcaster Dick Harlan. Dick was a great friend to Valpo Athletics and will be missed. Thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.
rlh is a great loss to the community of NW Indiana, Valpo athletics, and the board here at valpofanzone. He loved talking Valpo athletics as much as he loved talking about his Purdue Boilermakers. He will be greatly missed as the creator of the community that many of us have been a part of here on the interwebs with the voy.com board, and at least the previous incarnation before this board was created. A great guy to those who knew him, and someone that was devoted and passionate to the sports he covered in NW Indiana. RIP Dick Harlan
Very saddened to hear this news. I'm told there will be a moment of silence for him before today's women's basketball game vs. Butler. Very appropriate, seeing that to many in the campus community, he is known as the voice of Crusader women's basketball as the PA announcer. He was also a fixture for Valpo High boys and girls games on the radio and other events on the Regents Sports Network. Take care, rlh, and thanks for the memories!
Wow... I'm at a loss. rlh was a great guy, very passionate about the Crusaders and instrumental in the creation of our first message board on Voy and was such an integral part of our community here.
He will be sorely missed!
Here is a link to his Facebook page. A lot of nice words shared there.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dick-Harlan/1023293871?sk=wall (http://www.facebook.com/people/Dick-Harlan/1023293871?sk=wall)
This is sad news indeed. He was a wonderful man who had many friends throughout the area. As we all know, he cared deeply about Valpo sports and was a valuable member of the Valparaiso community. He will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family.
I have numerous CD and DVD memories of past VU basketball games, all thanks to rlh. If I ever want to relive the most dominant VU beat down of an above-the-red-line team, I can pop in the tape of the WVU game for grins and laughs (I'll always think of Valpo89 when I do).
I saw Paul Oren's tweet last night. It seemed a bit cryptic but I had this awful feeling that's what he was talking about.
Damn, another dear friend lost to the Big C. :(
He will be missed. Would love to see the ladies win this one for him.
My prayers. I go way back to the old Voy days with rlh. Although I enjoyed jerking his chain relative to VU athletics,he never once backed down. I'll really miss the guy and his comments. BOOK IT! :(
Very sad indeed. Once he found out he had cancer, there was hope he could beat it but it all happened too fast.
Dick had a very good voice for radio and truly enjoyed calling games for both the university and high school. He didn't grow up in Valpo, but no one could have cared more about the teams he covered. I was always pleased to go on the air with him during high school football games to discuss the upcoming seasons.
Rest in peace, RLH. You'll be missed.
Quote from: setshot on January 14, 2012, 12:57:27 PM
My prayers. I go way back to the old Voy days with rlh. Although I enjoyed jerking his chain relative to VU athletics,he never once backed down. I'll really miss the guy and his comments. BOOK IT! :(
I agree with setshot. I'll miss the banter and his way of always keeping the positive about Valpo sports in perspective. This might be the first time in a few years that I've found setshot's BOOK IT appropriate. It is a heartfelt memorial to a great guy.
I never actually met Dick but after years of listening to his voice and commentary and reading his opinions, this feels like a personal loss. It might require a dozen new upper aged posters just to try to replace the experience, perspective, and rational thought that we have just lost. In other words he can not be replaced. RIP RLH.
Just woken up to read the news about Dick. All of Rowdy's family are very sad to hear of his passing and send our love and prayers to his family. We had the pleasure of meeting Dick the last two times we visited Valpo and he was wonderful to talk to, larger than life, very knowledgeable, a big fan of Ryan's and just an all round great guy. Going to miss chatting to him on our next visit. RIP Dick.
Quote from: setshot on January 14, 2012, 12:57:27 PM
My prayers. I go way back to the old Voy days with rlh. Although I enjoyed jerking his chain relative to VU athletics,he never once backed down. I'll really miss the guy and his comments. BOOK IT! :(
Sad day. He will be missed on this board and around the VU sports facilities. I also like Setshots "BOOK IT"
Shocked to say the least. He did mention his illness here but I certainly had no idea he was near death at the time. Wonder what type of cancer he had. Could be pancreatic, which can kill pretty fast. Terribly sorry to hear this news. Although I only met him a few times, he was always gracious and friendly. My sympathys to his family and friends.
This is very sad news...he loved VU sports and it will be weird to not have him around the board. Prayers for his family...
This is truly sad news. I saw Dick sitting at the scorer's table at one of our recent home games (GB?) and wondered then how he was doing. I had no idea that he was so close to death. He will be missed.
A fine person, to say the least. R.I.P. Dick
Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all of the Valpo family.
Our thoughts and prayers to Dick's family. We had seen each other for years at events all over the country and his knowledge, experience and passion will be missed. I remember his early Valpo sports newsletters as well as the starting of voy.com. Will miss you big guy.
I was listening to the women's game today, and Andrew Stem and Renee Turpa said that he was diagnosed with kidney cancer eight months ago, so it took him quickly. I was looking at the link to his Facebook page, and saw a picture of what he looked like last night before he passed, and he really didn't look like the guy I remember him being, so I'm glad where he is now, he is himself again. I hope he's up there with Gene Bartow talking about all the good that was/is/will be for Valparaiso, Indiana, Valparaiso University, and Valparaiso High School and University athletics.
Terribly sorry to hear of rlh's passing.
The Horizon League just lost a friend.
Prayers from Milwaukee to his survivors.
Quote from: valpo04 on January 14, 2012, 11:56:00 AM
Wow... I'm at a loss. rlh was a great guy, very passionate about the Crusaders and instrumental in the creation of our first message board on Voy and was such an integral part of our community here.
He will be sorely missed!
Given all he did to help develop a meeting place for VU fandom on the internet, perhaps it would be appropriate to rename one of the forums on this board in his honor if his family gives permission?
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Requiescat in pace.
I got to know Dick pretty well the past couple of years thru church and am truly sorry he has passed.
Valpolife.com reported last night that his daughter indicated that he listened to the Valpo - Portage game on the radio and then passed. If so, I cannot think of a more appropriate way to sign off. He was a class man and very passionate about VU and VHS basketball.
There was an article on him in the Times of NW Indiana last month and it mentioned he started in Mt. Carmel, Il. back in 1971. That is a lot of basketball. I emailed him and asked how long he had been at Mt. Carmel and he would have announced one of my high school games back in that era. Talk about a small world. He looked forward to getting back in the booth and calling one of my son's games...he didnt think he had announced father/son's games. I am glad he did listen to my son's game his last evening. He will be missed in our community and our church.
Wow...just too sad. I dont post much anymore, but there are a few here that will remember me from the old Mid Con days when Valpo used to play ORU in Tulsa. Id always meet up with the Valpo and ORU fans for lunch on game day, and Dick would usually be part of the company. A really, really nice guy through my limited correspondence with him. Called a great game, too.
Prayers are with his family.
My prayers are with his family as well
Sorry to hear of rlh's passing I will miss him on the Board.
I think rlh would be very happy with all the results this weekend.
VU men 2 wins over YSU and CSU.
VU women victory over Butler.
Valpo High boys victory over Portage.
Now if Purdue can knock off Iowa that will complete a very nice set of victories that rlh would be very excited about.
I also concur with renaming this forum or at least part of the forum in rlh's honor.
Dick's last message on his facebook page:
Dick Harlan
Back to Chicago tomorrow for more radiation treatments...won't have access to the internet until Friday evening. Have a great week my friends....
Thanks for the well wishes, Dick
Rest in peace.
A great loss to Valparaiso athletics, and certainly this forum. He'll certainly be missed.
Has anyone heard of funeral or memorial arrangements?
Quote from: StlVUFan on January 14, 2012, 12:40:35 PMI have numerous CD and DVD memories of past VU basketball games, all thanks to rlh.
As a visiter and occassional poster, when I first started visiting the board many years ago, I remember asking if anyone had a tape of the Old Miss game, as I had never seen it. RLH didn't know me from Adam but he sent it to me and wouldn't even let me reimburse him for the postage. I'll miss his posts. My sympathies to his family, and as the topic says, RIP RLH.
Quote from: nkvu on January 16, 2012, 02:10:12 PM
Quote from: StlVUFan on January 14, 2012, 12:40:35 PMI have numerous CD and DVD memories of past VU basketball games, all thanks to rlh.
As a visiter and occassional poster, when I first started visiting the board many years ago, I remember asking if anyone had a tape of the Old Miss game, as I had never seen it. RLH didn't know me from Adam but he sent it to me and wouldn't even let me reimburse him for the postage. I'll miss his posts. My sympathies to his family, and as the topic says, RIP RLH.
Same here. I had actually snagged a copy of it off ESPN Classic when they were playing the most memorable NCAA tourney games, as voted by fans, and the Valpo-Ole Miss game was one of the winners. But it was fun to see it as it was broadcast in the Chicago area. The real find was when he also found me a copy of the Fla. State game in the 2nd round.
Visitation is 3-5 p.m. Saturday, with a memorial service at 5 p.m. at Moeller Funeral Home.
Quote from: lowposter on January 15, 2012, 04:16:20 PMThere was an article on him in the Times of NW Indiana last month and it mentioned he started in Mt. Carmel, Il. back in 1971. That is a lot of basketball. I emailed him and asked how long he had been at Mt. Carmel and he would have announced one of my high school games back in that era. Talk about a small world. He looked forward to getting back in the booth and calling one of my son's games...he didnt think he had announced father/son's games. I am glad he did listen to my son's game his last evening. He will be missed in our community and our church.
Dick missed by one of year with the Suiters. Eric's last year at Valpo was 91-92. Dick's first year working color with me was the 92-93 season. He, of course announced many of Jerrick's games the last few years at VHS. When you think about all the projects that Dick took on involving Valpo sports it's really incredible. I'm sure I'll miss a few: Radio announcer, Brown and Gold Digest creator and writer, Brown and Gold website, Valpo sports website, multiple fan boards, Valpo Football TV show producer, Valpo football and basketball (play-by-play and producer), Homer Drew show (host and producer), Valpo sports radio network (Sales, production, and executive director) Public address announcer for men's and women's basketball. Again, I'm sure I'm missing a few. I echo the sentiments of all. He'll be truly missed.
I know some of you will remember the show I'm referring to, but reading this thread, I feel like we're writing a script for the next edition of "This Is Your Life". We just don't have a certain Ralph Edwards to host the show were rlh is the star, and we're the people he has to guess who he impacted with what he did with his long career and life. Mind you, I'm referencing "This Is Your Life", and I'm 31, when most of the people who would remember this show are older than me.
Quote from: valporun on January 16, 2012, 09:28:08 PM
I know some of you will remember the show I'm referring to, but reading this thread, I feel like we're writing a script for the next edition of "This Is Your Life". We just don't have a certain Ralph Edwards to host the show were rlh is the star, and we're the people he has to guess who he impacted with what he did with his long career and life. Mind you, I'm referencing "This Is Your Life", and I'm 31, when most of the people who would remember this show are older than me.
LOL, I used to watch that show, and M*A*S*H once did a spoof on it.
A word of thanks to the administrator for adding Dick Harlan's image to the masthead as recognition of his contributions over the years.
Here is a link to the obituary:
http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1805284.html (http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1805284.html)
I can begin to express enough thanks for the kind words you have had for my father. He loved VU athletics and really did love his interaction with all of you on this forum. I can only wonder how big his smile was after the Men beat Youngstown State and Cleveland State last weekend and the women beat Butler. He so would have enjoyed being in attendance at those games and probably was. ;)
Continue to fight the good fight and thanks so much for the friendships that you gave him. He relished them more than you'll ever know. And thanks for the picture on the banner. What a wonderful tribute.
As he would've said, Keep the faith!
TR
To the family of RLH, I am truly sorry for your loss.
From a personal perspective, I am going to miss our debates and our "agree to disagree" discussions most. He was a good guy to banter with and I always appreciated his loyalty to Valpo. I just went back and reread one of his PM's on the old board, and now I am going to miss those conversations even more.
Wow... I have not been on the forum for some time because of some travel outside of the country and I come back to this sad news. Most recently RLH and I had talked about the possibility of his coming to the "Fort" for the IPFW game back in December it was then that he mentioned his illness but still hoped he would be able to make the trip. On the day of the game Mark LaBarbera told me that RLH could not make the trip.
Despite his inability to come to the game RLH sent me a message explaining his absence and further news of his illness "I have what is called a "soft tissue sarcoma", which apparently is pretty rare. You'd know I'd get something no one else has."
Hard to believe that a little more than a month later we are grieving his passing. To the family, you have my sympathies and to Dick, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace.
We know that he is in a better place!
It has been several years since I have visited your message board, I was hoping for good news about Homer & his wife. Learning of RLH's passing was a shock. Our son, HugeORUfan started ORU's original fan page around 15 years ago. We enjoyed the relationships that developed on the boards. When Dick came to Tulsa, we looked forward to lunch before the game with him & others from the message board. Though we all pushed each others' buttons, please know that I can't imagine a better rivalry than the one between Valpo & ORU.
My prayers go out to RLH's family & friends. May he rest in peace until we meet again.
ORUmom
Quote from: ORUmom on January 31, 2012, 01:32:27 AM
It has been several years since I have visited your message board, I was hoping for good news about Homer & his wife. Learning of RLH's passing was a shock. Our son, HugeORUfan started ORU's original fan page around 15 years ago. We enjoyed the relationships that developed on the boards. When Dick came to Tulsa, we looked forward to lunch before the game with him & others from the message board. Though we all pushed each others' buttons, please know that I can't imagine a better rivalry than the one between Valpo & ORU.
My prayers go out to RLH's family & friends. May he rest in peace until we meet again.
ORUmom
Thanks mom, good to hear from you. If we'd been paired with you, I for one was planning on making the trip like old times.
Good luck against Akron and in Sioux Falls in March. Saw the beat down you laid on Xavier and was impressed (Texas Tech was not bad either). In both cases, excuses could be made for the loser, but not for being creamed.
I want to join with ORUMom in expressing condolences to our Valpo friends over Dick's passing. Like Mom, I hadn't been over here for years, and news of Dick's death came as quite a shock. I didn't have any idea he was ill. I got to know Dick pretty well over the course of several lunches with he, StlVUFan, ValpoTerry (I THINK that's right) and others. RLH was a frequent visitor to our board back in the day, and he always had great points to make, and didn't back off from mixing it up with some of our fans in a little good natured fun. I really respected Dick and his work. Always looked forward to seeing him at the tournaments in Tulsa.
We pray for Dick's family and his extended Valpo family. Dick's passing is certainly a loss to many.
Thanks tmh. ValpoTerry still visits here from time to time, so he'll see your note, I'm sure, but I'll let him know you said hi.
A friend on facebook mentioned that today was the anniversary of rlh's death and I wanted to bump this thread.
It was nice to read through some of the old posts and bring back some memories of rlh. I also found an old Torch article I wrote about him and the recent death of Gene Bartow from 2012.
Quote"They (Gene and Dick) were very enthusiastic, very avid sports fans," said former head coach and current Associate Athletic Director Homer Drew. "Gene was a gentleman of the game. Dick had a great knack for sports. He was a walking encyclopedia."
"Dick was really an avid supporter of Valpo athletics and a great promoter of women's basketball," said Crusader women's basketball head coach Keith Freeman.
"Valparaiso University athletics and the women's basketball program has lost a family member," Freeman said in his pre-game speech.
"When you think of Dick, the three things you think are Valpo U., Valpo High, and Purdue," said Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations Ryan Wronkowicz. "If he was not working at games, he was there as a fan."