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Obituary

Legendary Griz broadcaster, Polson resident passes away

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POLSON — Mick Holien, legendary play-by-play announcer at the University of Montana, died Friday morning, Nov. 27, at age 76 due to complications from multiple sclerosis.

Holien, known as the “Voice of the Griz” to generations of fans provided the soundtrack to many U of M Grizzly athletic memorable moments, from national title games to record-setting performances.

Holien’s voice was heard by Griz fans over radio speakers back when he first debuted in 1985 as the play-by-play basketball announcer for the Lady Griz. Eight seasons later, Holien would become both the Griz football and men’s basketball play-by-play announcer after the retirement of “Grizzly” Bill Schwanke. 

Often identifying the Grizzlies as “the good guys” during his broadcast, Holien made a name for himself from behind the microphone for more than three decades with classic calling-card phrases like “from left-to-right on your radio dial,” “no hill for a climber,” “down to the pickle barrel baby” and “Touchdown, Montana!” Before wrapping up every Griz broadcast, Holien would close with his favorite John Wooden quote, “Be at your best when your best is needed.”

Over a 31-year-span, Holien indeed was his best when his best was needed, driving over 100,000 miles, covering a total 221 Lady Griz basketball games, 667 Griz basketball games and 317 Griz football games. His coverage included radio broadcast coverage of seven national championship football games, five trips to the men’s NCAA basketball tournament and six trips to the women’s NCAA basketball tournament.

Holien earned the Montana Broadcaster of the Year from the National Association of Sportswriters and Broadcasters 14 times, along with the Eddie Chinske Award for the year’s top sports professional and the E.B. Craney Award from the Montana Broadcasters Association.

Holien also authored or co-authored three books on Grizzly football and spent six decades building up a sizable sports memorabilia collection.

After leaving the Grizzlies’ microphone at the finish of the 2015-16 Griz men’s basketball season, Holien filled semi-retirement by working hard for his community in Polson. Holien volunteered his time to Court Appointed Special Advocates as a Guardian Ad Litem, volunteered and raised money for the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County and sat on several community boards including Board Chairman of the City Tax Appeal Board and City/County Planning Board. 

In the fall of 2021, Grizzly Athletics plans to pay tribute to Holien when the fans he cared for so much are once again able to pack into Washington-Grizzly Stadium and Dahlberg Arena.

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