Rod Trongard, Dead at 72

Rod Trongard Death – Cancer (Liver)

Rod Trongard, dead at 72 after a two year battle with liver cancer. photo: wwe.com

1933-2005 (Age 72)

Longtime American Association Wrestling (AWA) announcer Rod Trongard was like many wrestling announcers, one who came from a broadcasting background before entering the grappling game. With his distinctive voice, Rod knew from high school that he wanted to be a broadcaster. Rod reached his goal, working in in sports and news broadcasting including a run in the AWA during the 1980s followed by a brief stint in the WWF.

Born in Minnesota on February 16, 1933, the man with the magical voice began in radio in 1953, with a career that lasted until 2005 when he retired from KTOE.

Trongard’s smooth voice and broadcasting skills landed him a variety of jobs.

According to Find A Grave, Trongard’s gigs included “the voice of Gophers football, the Minnesota Kicks professional soccer team and the Minnesota Fighting Saints professional hockey team, as well as for professional wrestling.”

Trongard provided commentary for the AWA on its ESPN show, with his tagline “From coast to coast, continent to continent, and border to border” becoming familiar to AWA viewers. He also called action in the WWF in the late 80s, one of many AWA talents who left the promotion for the WWF.

Rod Trongard continued his broadcasting career long after leaving the wrestling world. He called sports ranging from high school athletics to professional sports, impressing his colleagues and inspiring them to meet his high standards in broadcasting.

Trongard was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame in 2003 in recognition of his talent and achievements.