Longtime Radio Voice of Mississippi State Athletics Passes Away

September 7, 2014

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — Mississippi State’s legendary radio voice of Bulldog athletics has passed away.

Jacob Sanford “Jack” Cristil, 88, a native of Memphis, passed away in front of family and friends at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo Sunday evening due to an extended illness.

(HailState.com)
“The Voice of the Bulldogs” Jack Cristil passed away on Sunday in Tupelo.

Cristil was the radio voice of Mississippi State University men’s basketball and football for nearly six decades. He began calling games for the Bulldogs in 1953.

Cristil studied journalism at the University of Minnesota before beginning his radio play-by-play career calling minor league baseball around the south in the late 40’s and early 50’s. His first radio call with Mississippi State was in September of 1953.

Cristil announced his retirement from the ‘mic’ in 2011 due to illness. He called 636 football games in his 58 years with the Bulldogs.

“Jack Cristil has connected with generations of Bulldog fans and is an icon for all who love the Maroon and White,” Mississippi State Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said in 2011 following Cristil’s retirement. “No school’s broadcaster is as synonymous with their institution as Jack Cristil is with Mississippi State. Jack’s decision leaves a large void. All Mississippians appreciate his dedication and sacrifice, and he will always be the Voice of the Bulldogs.”

Cristil will always be known for his legendary “wrap it in maroon and white” call, which signaled a victory for the Bulldogs. He was named Mississippi Broadcaster of the Year 21 times including the Southeastern Conference’s Broadcaster of the Year in 1988.

According to Mississippi State University, Cristil was preceded in death by his wife of 33 years, Mavis Kelly Cristil, in 1988. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Mollie Kabakoff Cristil and Benjamin Herman Cristil of Memphis, by a sister, Charlotte Cristil Hiller, and by brothers Harold Cristil and Stanley Cristil.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. The Cristil family will communicate details through the MSU Office of Public Affairs, but a public memorial service is planned in the near future on the campus of MSU.

In lieu of flowers, the Cristil family requests donations to either of the Cristil Scholarships at MSU (https://securelb.imodules.com/s/811/give/mobile/mobile.aspx?sid=811&gid=1&pgid=1315&cid=4668), the Girl Scouts Heart of the South (www.girlscoutshs.org) or Sanctuary Hospice House (www.sanctuaryhospicehouse.com).