Dick Crippen
Dick came to Tampa on a partial scholarship to the University of Tampa to run WTUN, the over-the-air college radio station, but soon found himself busy doing early mornings and late afternoons on WDAE, and booth announcing and weather for WFLA-TV Channel 8.
By 1963, he was doing mornings and was production director at WINQ in the old Hillsboro Hotel and later joined WILZ. WLCY-TV Channel 10 hired him initially as its first weatherman and kids show host (Commander Astro) before upping him to sports director. Sixteen years later, he became sports director for WFLA-TV (1981-1999), and went on to do local radio as part of the “Q Morning Zoo” on Q105 and Mason Dixon’s “Mason in the Morning” on Mix 96.
Crippen's sports broadcasting also included several years with NASCAR’s Motor Racing Network, 17 years doing the radio broadcasts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and serving as stadium announcer and television broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
His work has taken him around the country, from broadcasting the Unlimited Hydroplane Circuit on ESPN for 10 years to the voice for Offshore Powerboat Racing. He’s also broadcast the 12 hours of Sebring, the Fort Lauderdale Air & Sea Show, motorcycle racing, and several syndicated shows.
He has been a part of the birth of NFL Football, NASL Soccer, NHL Hockey and Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay Area, with his sports jobs taking him to ten Super Bowls, Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls, numerous Florida/Florida State matchups, and several World Series.
In the 1990’s, Dick was named Florida Sportscaster of the Year four times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
Station History
1963 - 1996 Other Tampa Bay Area Stations (On Air Personality)
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