15 Facts About Van Miller

Van Miller was an American radio and television sports announcer from Dunkirk, New York, where he began his career at Dunkirk radio station WFCB calling play-by-play for high school football games.

At the time of his retirement in 2003, Miller was the longest-tenured commentator with one team in pro football history.

On July 30,1960, Van Miller debuted on the air at War Memorial Stadium to call play-by-play for the Bills' inaugural contest against the Boston Patriots.

Van Miller hosted a popular afternoon program for many years on WBEN radio.

Van Miller called Buffalo Braves and Niagara University basketball, Buffalo Bisons baseball, Buffalo Stallions soccer, University at Buffalo football and, in his early years, high school sports.

Van Miller continued play-by-play for college basketball well into the 1990s for Empire Sports Network, giving the upstart network credibility in its formative years.

In 2004, Van Miller retired and Murphy succeeded him as the Bills' play-by-play voice.

In 1995, Van Miller wrote and performed a song, "I've Got That Phoenix Feeling," which got significant airplay on WBEN and WIVB.

Van Miller retired with Gloria Van Miller, whom he had married in 1953, in the town of Tonawanda, New York.

Van Miller is an inductee in the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, and the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.

Van Miller was an avid tennis player and often paired with Jack Ramsay in doubles matches.

Van Miller had a custom-made routine he used when being interviewed on radio shows, in which he called a fictional game in which the host of the show carries the ball just short of the end zone only to fumble on the goal line, after which Van Miller mocked anguish.

Van Miller was inducted onto the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame on October 19,2014.

Van Miller suffered various age related health issues in his last years.

Van Miller died July 17,2015, at the age of 87, from complications due to a stroke.