We’re unhappy to report of the passing of Artwork Eckman, the longtime tv host of Monster Power Supercross and AMA Professional Motocross, in addition to the weekly Moto World present, and numerous different sporting occasions, close to his residence in Georgia. He was 81 years outdated.
For a whole technology of motorsports viewers Eckman was the voice of supercross and motocross. Teamed with AMA Motorbike Corridor of Fame rider David Bailey within the TV sales space, Eckman’s voice turned synonymous with two-wheeled motorsports. He extremely revered in and across the paddock by such racing icons Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Stanton, Damon Bradshaw and Jean-Michel Bayle, and later additionally turned a mentor for future TV analysts and AMA Motorbike Corridor of Famers Jeff Emig, Ricky Carmichael, Grant Langtson and James Stewart. His voice was an indelible a part of the game and can be missed.
Earlier this yr, Artwork attended the Atlanta Supercross, which gave long-time followers and colleagues an opportunity to meet up with one of many legendary figures of this sport.
Artwork is survived by his spouse of 46 years, Donna Haines Eckman, in addition to two daughters, Christine Eckman and Kara Eckman Mecke, together with Kara’s husband Ralph Mecke and their two kids, Alastair and Cedric Mecke.
Plans for a Celebration of Life service can be at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 10, 2023, at Peachtree Street United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. In reminiscence of Artwork’s life and in lieu of flowers, the household suggests {that a} donation be made to InCommunity. InComunity, is a non-profit group that gives help to people with developmental disabilities. Over time, this group has been a major a part of the Eckman household as its workers has helped Christine Eckman thrive in her group.
The next obituary was offered by the Eckman household.
Sports activities Broadcaster/Commentator, humanitarian, husband, father, grandfather and good friend ARTHUR G. ECKMAN (Artwork) died on November 4, 2023, on the age of 81. Born in Salem, Oregon, in April 1942, Artwork was the son of Harriett Wiseman Eckman and Bruce Web page Eckman.
Recognized for his wealthy, deep, and infrequently stated to be ‘God-like’ voice, Artwork’s skilled profession spanned greater than 55 years within the sports activities world for which he offered broadcasting and reporting providers for over 20 totally different sorts of sports activities. If there was a ball concerned, whether or not a soccer, basketball, baseball, bowling ball, or golf ball or if there was an engine concerned, from a bike to a motor boat, Artwork had the data, wherewithal, expertise and historical past to write down or speak about it. Backside line, Artwork liked sports activities and was a sports activities fanatic and historian.
Artwork was a 1965 graduate of Washington State College’s Edward R. Murrow Faculty of Communication and started his profession working within the newsroom at KOIN-TV in Portland, Oregon. From information he segued into sports activities, changing into the Sports activities Director at KATU-TV and KEX radio the place he known as play-by-play for Oregon State soccer, basketball and triple-A baseball, twice incomes the Oregon Sportscaster of the 12 months award.
From Portland, Artwork started broadcasting for the San Diego Rockets, which after one yr, moved to Houston and have become often known as the Houston Rockets. Artwork served as Director of Broadcasting for the Houston Rockets for 5 years doing play-by-play radio and TV, together with broadcasting two NBA All-Star video games on community radio.
After Houston, Artwork labored at KSFO-Radio as Sports activities Director/Anchor and as a play-by-play Announcer for the San Francisco Giants and Standford College. From 1976 to 1978, Artwork was the Sports activities Director/Anchor for KRON-TV, broadcasting for the Oakland Raiders pre-season soccer play-by-play and was Co-host of the Kenny Stabler Present. It was right here that he was honored with the Kennedy Basis Nationwide Award for producing a sequence that includes athletes with developmental disabilities.
In 1978, Artwork moved his household from San Francisco to Atlanta to develop into the Sports activities Director/Anchor for WXIA-TV till 1991. Whereas at WXIA-TV, Artwork offered every day protection of Falcons, Hawks, Flames and Braves video games in addition to for space schools, universities and newbie sports activities. He additionally offered particular protection of Tremendous Bowls, Collegiate Bowls, Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500, Heavyweight Championship fights, Last Fours, The Masters, plus main golf, tennis, gymnastics and monitor and discipline occasions.
At this level in Artwork’s distinguished profession, his skilled path took him on a number of adventures the place he was honored with many awards and acclamations together with receiving the Man of the 12 months award from the Edward R. Murrow College of Broadcasting at Washington State College in 2015.
Amongst his many broadcasting duties, Artwork did play-by-play radio and tv for the Atlanta Dream/WNBA; was host announcer, producer and author for auto and boat racing; was Sportscaster/author for ESPN and ESPN2 for such occasions because the Chick-fil-A-Bowl Preview Present (internet hosting with Lee Corso and Invoice Curry), was play-by-play announcer for webcast/radio and tv for Supercross/Motocross, did Moto World’s weekly journal present serving as anchor, editor, author and producer and was pit announcer for AMA Street Racing and CART-Indy Vehicles. Moreover with ESPN and ESPN-2, Artwork known as play-by-play for Formulation One Tunnel Boat Collection, was reporter and host of the Suzuki Nice Outdoor program, broadcasted for Limitless Hydros and Off Shore Boat Race Providers together with offering play-by-play for Broad World of Sports activities. He offered commentary for Full Contact Karate, the Nice Britain Rugby League, Water Sking, Professional-Seashore Volleyball, Professional-Snow Snowboarding and the US Squash Open. He was the play-by-play announcer for replays of ACC soccer and basketball video games.
Artwork was radio and tv announcer for the Atlanta Hawks, the ACC Basketball-Jefferson Pilot, the ACC Soccer-Raycom sequence, the ACC Volleyball and Ladies’s basketball packages, the Atlanta Thunder World Group Tennis, Grand Prix Biking WATL, Georgia and Florida All-Star Excessive College Soccer, Metro Convention Basketball packages; and was host of the Invoice Curry, Bobby Ross and Bobby Cremins TV reveals.
One in all Artwork’s favourite faculty groups was Georgia Tech the place Artwork served as host of the WSB Radio Tailgate Present, was a sideline reporter for WGST, and did play-by-play for WGST Tech basketball. He additionally hosted American Sports activities Radio Community’s Last 4 present with Al McGuire; was a reporter for Sports activities By-Line USA, nationwide syndicated discuss present. He reported from Wimbledon, the French Open and the Monaco Grand Prix. He offered Atlanta Assault Indoor Soccer play-by-play and WGZC radio morning drive-time sports activities studies.
Along with a full-time sports activities profession, Artwork was acquainted with the company world, lending his voice and experience to quite a few commercials, particular promotions and movies. He was keen on writing and authored quite a few function articles to numerous publishers and corporations.
Within the latter a part of his sports activities profession, Artwork took particular curiosity in working with Kennesaw State College in serving to to additional develop and broaden its athletic division. At Kennesaw, Artwork served as Assistant Athletic Director and Media Relations liaison and guide. He loved instructing workers and college students/athletes on coping with the media, together with disaster management, and he supervised the Sports activities Data Division amongst different duties.
One other one in every of Artwork’s nice loves was working with younger athletes and company executives on the way to higher perceive their roles with the media. Consequently, he developed a sequence of seminars to assist many individuals construct constructive photographs and talk with the media.
Along with his love of sports activities, Artwork was recognized for his humanitarian efforts. For over 35 years, he served on the Board of Administrators for InCommunity (previously often known as enAble of Georgia) – a system of 20 group properties for mentally handicapped and autistic adults. He was former chairman of the federally mandated Advisory Board for Particular Training for the state of Georgia. And for 9 years, Artwork served on the Board of Administrators for Georgia Particular Olympics. He was a founding member of the Georgia Autism Society, and, for 13 years, was Director of a highschool scholar/athlete awards program through which he visited as many as 50 faculties, charities and repair teams every year. Artwork served as President and was one in every of 23 males honored with a lifetime membership within the Landing Membership of Atlanta and served as a member of the Naismith basketball awards committee. In 2010, Artwork was inducted within the Portland Public Colleges Sports activities Corridor of Fame.
Artwork is survived by his spouse, Donna Haines Eckman, in addition to two daughters, Christine Eckman and Kara Eckman Mecke together with Kara’s husband Ralph Mecke and their two kids, Alastair and Cedric Mecke.
Plans for a Celebration of Life service can be at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 10, 2023, at Peachtree Street United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. In reminiscence of Artwork’s life and in lieu of flowers, the household suggests {that a} donation be made to InCommunity. InComunity, is a non-profit group that gives help to people with developmental disabilities. Over time, this group has been a major a part of the Eckman household as its workers has helped Christine Eckman thrive in her group.
