Bill Text: IN SCR0068 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializing Tom Carnegie, iconic voice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-04-26 - Returned to the Senate [SCR0068 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-SCR0068-Introduced.html
RESOLUTION No. _____
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Tom Carnegie.
, read first time and referred to Committee on
RESOLUTION No. _____
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Tom Carnegie.
Whereas, Tom Carnegie, the iconic voice of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, passed away on February 11,
2011, at the age of 91;
Whereas, Over the course of Carnegie's amazing 61-year
tenure, he called 61 Indianapolis 500s, 12 Brickyard 400s,
and 6 United States Grand Prix races for millions of fans at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway;
Whereas, Carnegie's signature phrases will live forever
in the hearts of race fans. "Heeee's on it" in describing the
start of an official qualifying attempt. "Heeeeere's the time
and speed report!" and following a particularly good
qualifying run, "...race fans, you are not going to believe
this...iiiit's a nnnnnewwwww traaaack record!";
Whereas, Carnegie was born Carl Lee Kenagy in
Norwich, Connecticut on September 25, 1919. Carnegie's
father was a Baptist minister, which led to his family moving
the family to Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri;
Whereas, Carnegie graduated from William Jewel College in 1942. He played on the college baseball team and was an aspiring actor before becoming afflicted with a polio
type illness during his junior year in college, which led to
partial paralysis in his leg;
Whereas, Carnegie's illness prompted him to focus on
public speaking and broadcasting. He entered
extemporaneous speech and debate competitions, quickly
becoming an outstanding debater. He eventually entered into
and won a sports radio contest;
Whereas, Upon graduating from William Jewel College,
Carnegie took his first radio job with WOWO radio in Fort
Wayne, Indiana, where he took the name Tom Carnegie,
because the station manager thought it would sound better
on air. This was because WOWO was owned by
Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the name
Carnegie was prominent in Pittsburgh;
Whereas, In 1945, Carnegie moved to Indianapolis,
Indiana, where he became sports director at radio station
WIRE, and began writing sports columns for the Indianapolis
Star;
Whereas, In 1946, just days before the "500," Carnegie
was working as the emcee at a vintage car show when he was
approached by new track president Wilbur Shaw, who had
heard Carnegie's work, and consequently Shaw invited
Carnegie to assist with the public address on Race Day;
Whereas, Carnegie accepted Shaw's offer. He met
Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman, who had
just bought and renovated the dilapidated track that had
been idle during World War II. Hulman hired the young
broadcaster, who at the time knew nothing about auto
racing;
Whereas, "Nobody gave me any help or anything like that," Carnegie once said in an interview with WRTV. "I just had names and numbers, like calling a football game. And I somehow got through it and satisfied Wilbur Shaw and
Tony Hulman because they asked me to come back next year,
and I've been there ever since";
Whereas, WRTV, then WFBM-TV, hired Carnegie in
1953 as sports director. During his tenure, Carnegie
traveled to Japan (1960 Tokyo Olympics) and Mexico to
cover the Olympics. His broadcasting career spanned three
decades, before retiring from WRTV in 1985;
Whereas, Carnegie served as the public address
announcer for the Indiana State High School Basketball
championships, most memorably serving as the PA
announcer when underdog Milan High School famously won
the Indiana state high school basketball championship in
1954. This led to a cameo in the 1986 film "Hoosiers,"
which famously captured the legendary championship run of
Milan High School;
Whereas, Carnegie shared a signature moment with
renowned driver A.J. Foyt. During practice in 1993, Foyt
joined his friend at the pit row broadcasting platform. There,
Foyt announced his retirement. Carnegie said he "always
felt honored that he did that." Foyt found that funny. The
honor had been his;
Whereas, Carnegie's career spanned six decades, tracing
the sport's evolution from the front-edge roadsters of the
1940s to today's sleek rear-engine, high-tech racers. When
he started, women were not even allowed in the pits; by the
time he retired, several women were regulars in the
Indianapolis 500;
Whereas, Carnegie retired in 2006. He briefly came out
of his retirement on May 12, 2007 to call A.J. Foyt's
qualification run;
Whereas, Carnegie is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, the Associated Press Hall of Fame, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame;
Whereas, Upon Carnegie's passing, scores of racing icons have expressed their appreciation for the legendary broadcaster. Roger Penske said in a statement, "Tom Carnegie was a true gentleman and a legend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and throughout the state of Indiana. For so many years, his unmistakable voice signified the beginning of the month of May and the Indianapolis 500. We will certainly miss Tom and his spirit, his unique style of announcing and his passion for racing";
Whereas, A.J. Foyt said of his friend, "I know a lot of
people that work there, at the Speedway, and they do a good
job, but you only have one Tom Carnegie. It's kind of like
Bobby Knight in basketball. There's only one Bobby Knight
and there will never be another one. Or like Mario Andretti
or A.J. Foyt";
Whereas, Racing icon Michael Andretti said, "Tom was
one of a kind and was as much a part of Indianapolis Motor
Speedway and the Indy 500 as the yard of bricks. Even
though he is gone, I think you'll always hear his voice when
you think of the Speedway or the 500. He was the voice for
so many great moments in the history of that place and he
will never be replaced. He was the best";
Whereas, John Andretti added, "I remember going to the
track as a kid with my father (Aldo), uncle (Mario) and
cousin (Michael) in the month of May and hearing his voice
and the phrase, 'A new track record!' That excitement he
made you feel. He made the hairs on your neck stand. The
track will remain the same, but its voice will never be";
Whereas, Carnegie is survived by his wife, D.J., and their
three children; Blair, Charlotte, and Robert. A public
memorial service for Carnegie was held February 15, 2011
at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum;
and
Whereas, As the voice of the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway for six decades, Tom Carnegie's iconic voice will
forever be associated with the 500. Hoosiers everywhere
have lost a true broadcasting legend, and his enduring
legacy will live on: Therefore,
SECTION 1. The Indiana General Assembly memorializes Tom
Carnegie.
SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to
transmit a copy of this Resolution to Tom Carnegie's wife, D.J., and
their three children; Blair, Charlotte, and Robert.
