Charles Kuffner passes along the news that J. Fred Duckett — the longtime public address announcer for Rice University sports teams, the Stros, the Oilers, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Texas Relays and many other events — is battling leukemia and in need of blood platelet donations. Kuff’s post has the information on how to arrange a donation, as does this post from the Rice forum. Please give if you can and pass along the information to anyone who has enjoyed J. Fred’s good-natured style over the years (no one who ever heard it will forget J. Fred announcing at Stros games “Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuzzzz!”).
Update: Sad news. J. Fred died on Monday, June 25. Charles Kuffner has more.