Batavia to honor colorful Dubis for 50 years as PA man

Rudy Dubis has been the voice of Batavia basketball since the Nixon administration.

He has no intention of resigning anytime soon.

Bulldog basketball will pause prior to Saturday's DuKane Conference game against Glenbard North to honor the legendary public address announcer on his 50th season behind the microphone.

Known for welcoming fans to the "Home of the Battlin' Bulldogs," the 1970 Batavia graduate has announced home boys basketball games since the 1970-71 season. Named to the position by then-athletic director Bob Tober, he has missed only five games in 50 years.

"My wife, Marilyn, says why don't you just take the night off?'" Dubis said. "I say 'This is Batavia basketball. I have a commitment and that's the way it is.' She says 'I know.'"

Dubis, inducted to the IBCA Hall of Fame in 1997 as a "friend of basketball," will be honored with a plaque before the game. Approximately 30 alumni players are expected to return for the commemoration.

"I never thought that it would be 50 years," said Dubis, the announcer for Batavia football games since 2001. "I figured it would be a four, five or 10-year deal. I figured either I'd say something or do something that would upset somebody and they'd get rid of me or someone else would want the job.

"I never expected to go through five athletic directors, five principals and five or six coaches. I'm just an ordinary guy. I just have that knack of having that voice and I enjoy doing what I do."

Dubis said he realizes he might not be everyone's cup of tea.

"I'm probably one of the most hated people in Geneva," he said with a laugh. "They don't like me a lot. Probably St. Charles people don't like me either. But Batavia people say 'That's our Rudy.'"