LIBERTY — His voice no longer echoes though the Liberty Red Devils football stadium, but his name will be etched there permanently.
The announcer’s booth at Liberty High School has been named after Doug Winkler, who was the P.A. announcer at Red Devil Football games for more than 20 years. Winkler died in December.
“Doug never asked for anything in return,” said Lori Gwinn, principal of Liberty High School. “He traveled to away games, too, because he believed in our team and the kids in this community. During the 2014 football season, LHS recognized Doug for his countless hours of service as the Voice of the Red Devils. Doug was a quiet man who appreciated everything life offered him. You won’t find a person who will say anything bad about his character or his heart. We will truly miss him in the announcer’s booth this fall.”
A plaque bearing Winkler’s name will be mounted in the announcer’s booth at the football stadium, and a naming ceremony will be held at the first home Red Devil football game in the fall.
“Doug loved sports, the students, and the town of Liberty,” said Dr. Brian Swords, chairman of the SDPC board of trustees, who is also a Liberty High graduate. “He was one of the most humble and genuine guys you’d ever meet. I always enjoyed talking to him. Whenever you heard that unmistakable voice resonate over the PA system, you knew you were in Liberty on a Friday night, and you knew it would be entertaining. Football games won’t be the same without him. He’s definitely going to be missed.”