Legendary NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks died Wednesday following an acute illness, his family said in a statement. He was 64 years old. “Our family is heartbroken by Dan’s sudden and unexpected passing after an acute illness,” Hicks’ wife, Hannah Storm, said in a statement. “He was a devoted husband for over 30 years, a loving father to our three daughters and a dear friend to many people. His loss is immeasurable. “Dan was truly one of a kind and quite simply the person everyone wanted to be with. When he walked into a room, he brought the energy, the laughter and the people together. He was endlessly kind, thoughtful and funny, and made everyone feel like they mattered. “Our three daughters and I are heartbroken. We are grateful for the love and support surrounding our family during this incredibly difficult time. These are simply not words to express how much we will miss him.” NBC since 1992. He was a tower announcer for the network’s golf coverage until he was promoted to the lead play-by-play role in 2000. Among his most famous on-air moments, Hicks called Tiger Woods’ dramatic putt to force a playoff at the 2008 U.S. Open, as well as the U.S. swim team’s surprising comeback at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His colleagues in the booth included Johnny Miller and Rowdy Gaines. “Dan Hicks was an extraordinary colleague, friend and person,” NBC Sports’ Rick Cordella, Sam Flood and Molly Solomon said in a statement. “In his 34 years at NBC Sports, he was an exceptional broadcaster and announcer of games and events that elevated some of the biggest moments in sports history. “From Olympic swimming and skiing to Notre Dame football, many other high-profile events and especially as the distinctive voice of our golf coverage for the past 26 years, Dan’s combination of knowledge, style, enthusiasm and humor informed and entertained fans for decades. But far beyond his on-air excellence, Dan was a better person who greeted his teammates with a smile, a joke or a word of encouragement, sometimes all three in the same sentence. Our deepest condolences and love go out to his wife Hannah and daughters Hannah, Ellery and Riley.” Added Versant CEO Mark Lazarus in a statement: “I am heartbroken by the sudden loss of our friend Dan Hicks. I had the privilege of working alongside Dan for decades, but our friendship extended far beyond NBC Sports. Dan was one of the best at what he did, but what I will remember most is the person he was: a loyal friend and a devoted husband and father. My family and I are thinking of Hannah, her children, and the entire Hicks family. “We will miss him.”
