OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University coaches, fans and student-athletes have been accustomed to the basso profundo voice of Phil Warford echoing through the stands either at Abe Lemons Arena, Frederickson Fieldhouse or Ann Lacy Stadium.
Warford lent his voice for public address announcing to a variety of OCU sporting events throughout nearly 45 years. Warford's career, spanning many touchstones in Chiefs and Stars history, reached a conclusion this winter due to health concerns.
Arnold Short, then the OCU athletics director, approached Warford to become the PA voice for OCU basketball upon hearing him performing the announcing at Moore High School. Warford had been a fixture at OCU since then.
"Phil Warford has been so much more than the voice of OCU Athletics over the years," said Jim Abbott, OCU athletics director from 2002-21 and assistant AD from 1991-94. "He truly loves our staff and students and has been such a positive supporter of our efforts. Phil has had a great influence on me personally and shared in some of the greatest moments in OCU athletic history. I'm grateful for his hard work on behalf of OCU and even more appreciative of his friendship and positivity."
Beyond basketball contests at OCU, Warford branched out into announcing softball games once Ann Lacy Stadium was completed in 2008, and into wrestling after the men's program began in 2006-07. Warford has added his inflection to the Sports Spectacular OCU athletics fundraising events at the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum and the athletics hall of fame ceremonies on campus.
"It is not possible in words to say what this university has meant to me in my life," Warford said in 2018. "I'm always at the wrong place at the right time. I was announcing a high school basketball tournament. I got a call the next morning and was asked to come up here and do OCU's basketball. I didn't think I could do that. Two years later I was doing the All-College Basketball Tournament downtown, and I did it for 30 years."
Warford had been an announcer for several athletics events around the region. Warford had been the announcer at Moore High School basketball, football and softball throughout the years. Warford's voice boomed over the years at the State Fair Arena and Myriad Convention Center in the All-College Basketball Tournament in Oklahoma City. For nearly 50 years, Warford's voice rang through stadiums in the state at the high school track & field state championship meets.
"I consider Phil a good friend that I've known for over 25 years," said OCU softball coach Phil McSpadden, who previously worked along with Warford courtside at OCU basketball games. "He's a true blue Oklahoma City University supporter who's been the voice of OCU Athletics for years. His talent behind the microphone is only surpassed by his love for God and his family, his positive demeanor and his genuine concern for others."
Warford had grown to have pride in both OCU athletics and the university as a whole after his son Travis earned his biology degree at OCU. Travis Warford practices medicine in the Oklahoma City area.
"Phil Warford played a key role in establishing one of the best game environments in college sports," said Clay Stoldt, former OCU sports information director. "The professionalism and energy he brought to announcing every game truly enhanced the fan experience. Since my time at OCU in the 80s and 90s, our industry has deepened its commitment to providing fans with the best, most memorable game experiences possible. OCU, and Phil in particular, were ahead of the curve in that regard."
Chris Kelly performed public address duties at OCU basketball and softball contests in Warford's stead. Kelly attended the All-College Tournament and remembers hearing Warford's voice throughout the arena.
"My best memories of him as a 14-15 year-old were from the All-College when I worked as a ball boy," Kelly said. "I liked and remembered how he announced the games. He inspired me to want to have a radio and announcing hobby and second career. I am honored to succeed him as the PA Voice of Stars basketball."
OCU Athletics bestowed the spirit of OCU award upon Warford at the 2017-18 Jim Wade Awards. Warford reacted to the honor by telling OCU student-athletes that he hoped that the university had the same effect on them as it had on him.
"For me to have had the privilege to do what I have done, I could never ever if I said it a hundred times five times a day the words thank you, it would never be enough for you to understand how I love this university," Warford said. "This is a place where I have had the opportunity to say the names of so many great and tremendous athletes and meet so many great and tremendous coaches. I have done national tournaments and all kinds of things only because I got the opportunity to work here at Oklahoma City University."
