Appropriate Turnabout, Bleachers Fill For Sportscaster
The bleachers were filled at the Kelly Walsh High School gym. But not for a game. This time it was for that beloved personality who covered high school sports across Wyoming. Frank Gambino.
Friends, family members, and those who worked with him. Even Senator Barasso showed up.
Frank Gambino will be remembered this Saturday at a special memorial in Casper, Wyoming. Many people were positively affected by his life. Even those who just enjoyed reading his articles and listening to his broadcasts attended the event.
Frank had a quirky personality, which was part of his charm. Each speaker had their own story that made those in attendance laugh and applaud.
Frank's son put together a special slide presentation with photos and music of his father.
Wyoming enjoyed Frank, on air and in writing, for over 40 years. He unexpectedly passed away in September of this year.
By now, most everybody has heard of the loss of longtime radio and TV Wyoming sports broadcaster Frank Gambino. Frank died of a heart attack at age 63.
Many who knew him shared stories. I wanted to share a few of my favorite moments with Frank on Wyoming's morning radio talk show.
Frank was a hoarder of Halloween candy.
There were little things, like the way I would decorate the hallways at the radio station for Halloween each year. There would be a bowl of candy left for everyone. Frank would raid the bowl of the best candy before anyone got to it, then complain to me, on air, that the damn thing was empty and I better get to it. A naturally thin guy ate all that crap and never gained an ounce.
Listeners dared him to eat abandoned pizza.
There was the time he drove down to Denver to watch a baseball game, but called the show from the hotel lobby to make sure the sports segment was filled. He sat in the lobby of the hotel, on his cell phone, talking to me on air. Next to him was a box of pizza that someone had left from the night before. There was still one slice left in it. Frank was hungry. Listeners kept calling and texting the show, daring him to eat it. He did. He lived.
The best story of them all: listeners honking at him.
One Friday morning, Frank told me that he had to drive to Wheatland to cover a game. He would not be in the studio to do his last hour segment. He said that he would just pull over and call me to fill the time. At the Ayres Natural Bridge exit, he pulled down the off ramp, then partly up the on ramp, where he pulled over to call me. Seizing the moment, I asked listeners to honk at Frank as they drove by. He was in the radio station vehicle, so he was hard to miss.
But, honestly, we didn't think anyone would do it. We were wrong. While he was on the air with me, cars, pickup trucks, and semi-trucks all honked at him on the way by. One guy even drove down the off-ramp and back up the on-ramp just to wave and honk at him. Frank was yelling at me over the phone, "They're actually doing it."
Frank was a great person and a great broadcaster. It's hard to replace a personality like that. I'm not sure we can.
Penny's Diner At Bill Wyoming
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods