Dodgers Broadcaster Vin Scully Honored at Pepperdine University Graduation

Dodgers Broadcaster Vin Scully Honored at Pepperdine University Graduation

MALIBU, Calif., April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- He called Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965, Hank Aaron's record-breaking home run in 1974, and Kirk Gibson's World Series home run in 1988. And today Vin Scully, "Voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers," answered the call as the 2008 Pepperdine University Seaver College commencement speaker and recipient of Pepperdine's highest distinction, the Honorary Doctorate degree.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080426/CLSA007 )

The commencement ceremony took place at Alumni Park on Pepperdine's Malibu campus. Jamie McCourt, president of the Los Angeles Dodgers, introduced Scully.

About Vincent "Vin" Edward Scully

The accolade "Baseball's All-time Best Broadcaster" belongs to the "Voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers," and Vin Scully is among the City of Angels' most beloved radio and television announcers.

Just one year after college, Scully joined the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers broadcast team of Red Barber and Connie Desmond in 1950. He assumed the lead broadcasting role after colleague and mentor Barber retired in 1953 -- a post Mr. Scully has held since, and his 59 years of consecutive service with the Dodgers is the longest of any current sports broadcaster with one team. His unique style of blending word imagery, history, players' biographies, and down-to-earth storytelling has endeared him and his beloved sport to millions worldwide.

Scully is universally recognized as one of the most accomplished professionals in his field. His numerous awards include his induction into the broadcast wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the Ford C. Frick Award recipient (1982), Top Sportscaster of the 20th Century by the American Sportscasters Association (2000), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Radio/Television News Association of Southern California (2007).

Scully, whose son Kevin is a 1985 Seaver College graduate, has been embraced by millions of appreciative fans. In 1976 he was named the Most Memorable Personality in L.A. Dodger History and in 1982 he had a star placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was given the Voice of Vision Award for his extraordinary ability to paint vivid word pictures for the blind, and has supported the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Paralysis Project of America. Scully earned his bachelor's degree in 1949 from Fordham University. In 2000 he was honored by his alma mater with the honorary doctor of humane letters. He resides with his wife Sandra in Thousand Oaks, California.

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Source: Pepperdine University

CONTACT: Molly Drobnick of Pepperdine University, +1-310-804-8885,
molly.drobnick@pepperdine.edu

Web site:

http://www.pepperdine.edu/

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