Corky Whitlock, a radio play-by-play icon in Cleveland, had a stroke recently and is being cared for at St. Barnabas Nursing Home in Chattanooga.
Whitlock retired from calling Bradley Central High School football games after last season, his 53rd with the program. Gary Ownbey, currently in his 24th season as part of the Bradley broadcast team along with 40-plus-year veteran Earl Rowan, has moved into the full-time play-by-play role.
Ownbey said Whitlock had a series of minor strokes a decade or so ago that had affected his left side. After a trip to the hospital on Oct. 13, an MRI discovered a small blood clot at the back base of his neck, which is what had caused the recent stroke that has affected his right side, his speech and his ability to swallow.
Whitlock's Bradley broadcasting career, which was celebrated Aug. 22 at halftime of the Bears' season-opening home game against Polk County, began at WBAC 1340 AM in the 1961-62 school year. It ended on WCLE 104.1 FM when the girls' basketball team was eliminated from the Class AAA state tournament last March.
Whitlock was Bradley's announcer for multiple state-championship victories, including in football, boys' basketball and girls' basketball. He also broadcast other sports and for other schools in the Cleveland area, ranging from elementary to college.
"He was the voice of sports in Bradley County for 53 years," Ownbey said. "He mentored a lot of us. He's like a father figure to me. We had a lot of windshield time together. Everybody in the state knows the guy."
Whitlock also coached Dixie Youth baseball for 35 years. Cleveland's Dixie Youth facility is named the Whitlock Complex, and the press box at Bears Stadium also is named in his honor.
He is a member of multiple halls of fame, but perhaps he is most proud of his marriage to wife Annette for more than 50 years.
"Never, ever once have I heard him say anything negative about anybody," Ownbey said. "Not coaches, players, fans, anyone, no matter what they said or what hostile environment we were in. By the same token, I've never heard anyone say anything negative about Corky."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.