National Football Foundation

Ray Christensen's career spanned 50 years from 1951 to 2001. He became the primary play-by-play announcer for the Gophers from 1963 to 2001, earning the title as the official Voice of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Regarded by his peers as one of the most skilled and versatile broadcasters, Christensen brought a passion to sports unrivaled in the region, and his trademark excitable voice set the stage for generations.

During his career, he called approximately 510 Gopher football games and 1,309 basketball games. Among his many notable games, he called the last game in the former Memorial Stadium and the team's first game in the Metrodome.

His broadcast career began at University of Minnesota radio station KUOM in 1951, followed by a term as program director and sports director at WLOL Minneapolis/Saint Paul. He joined WCCO Minneapolis/Saint Paul in 1963, where his duties ranged from news and interviews to fine music as well as sports.

He retired from full-time broadcasting in 1993, but continued doing Gopher football and basketball play-by-play until 2001.

Over the years he broadcast Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Minneapolis Lakers, and golf and hockey games in the region. Active in the community, he recorded talking books for the blind.

He received numerous awards for his broadcast achievements, and the University of Minnesota placed a banner honoring him in Williams Arena while establishing an athletic scholarship in his name. He was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002.