Former Sox broadcaster Lorn Brown dies

CHICAGO - Lorn Brown, who served as play-by-play announcer on Chicago White Sox television and radio broadcasts from 1976-79 and 1983-88, passed away on Thursday in Las Cruces, N.M. Brown was 71.

Brown served in the dual role of TV/radio announcer with the Sox from 1976-79 and worked solely in the radio booth from 1983-88. Hired by Bill Veeck, Brown counted Harry Caray, Jimmy Piersall, Don Drysdale, Early Wynn and Del Crandall among his broadcast partners with the White Sox.

Among his broadcasting highlights, Brown called the 1983 game when the White Sox clinched the American League West Division title to reach the postseason for the first time since 1959.

Brown also called games for the Chicago Blitz and Chicago Cougars, the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference, Bradley, DePaul and Notre Dame Universities among others. He worked on TV broadcasts for the St. Paul Saints before relocating to Las Cruces in 2005, where he worked for New Mexico State University.

Brown was born in East Chicago, Ind. in 1938 and grew up on the South Side of Chicago, attending Mt. Carmel High School before joining the Air Force at age 15.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, sons Bonner and Rich, daughter Jacqueline and numerous grandchildren and siblings.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Getz Funeral Home in Las Cruces. Burial will be at sea. Memorial gifts may be made to the athletic program of the Red Cloud Indian Mission or the donor's favorite charity.