If there is a Walter Cronkite of Linfield College, Dr. Craig Singletary would easily fit the description.
 
Universally respected for his professionalism, pleasant nature and rich, baritone voice, Singletary died surrounded by family on Saturday, May 14, from complications of a stroke. He was 85.
 
Singletary not only became synonymous with Linfield football games for 40 seasons as the Wildcats' impartial and informative public address announcer, he also impacted students as a professor of communications, specializing in broadcasting and public speaking.
 
Together with students, he launched the campus radio station, KSLC-FM, and piloted a video broadcast production club. Many of his broadcast graduates went on to long careers in radio and television, including Steve Arena, Gary Walker, Jim Little and Ron Callan.
 
Linfield football fans considered Singletary the quintessential model of what a PA announcer should sound like: clear, concise and respectful of the opposing team. Singletary recognized that fans came to the stadium each weekend to see the team perform and the PA announcer's role was to enhance, but not dominate, that experience.
 
In recognition of his years of meritorious service, Singletary was inducted into the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. In honor of his 33 years of teaching, the college named its annual high school speech tournament in his name.
 
Singletary is survived by his wife, Fae, and four daughters, Carol, Diane, Linda and Marcia. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy, whom he was married to for 50 years.
 
A memorial service will be held Friday, May 20, at 2 p.m., at the McMinnville Covenant Church, 2155 NW 2nd Street.
  
DAVE HANSEN
Retired professor of economics and longtime football radio announcer
“Craig was a consummate professional both as a professor in the classroom and as a PA announcer. As our radio crew traveled to different parts of the country and heard the approaches of other announcers, it strikes me that I never heard anyone in a college setting quite as good on the mic as Craig.”
 
“He was blessed with a marvelous voice.”
 
“As a classroom teacher, I never heard any student say anything other than praiseworthy things about Craig. He was very well respected.”
 
“On the microphone, he had less ego and was less of a homer than many who came after him at other places.”
 
RON CALLAN '74
Broadcast student and longtime sports radio personality
“Craig was my mentor. He was truly a special talent who never wavered in his ability to draw more out of you as a student than you thought you were capable of. He demanded excellence, but not in a pound-the-desk kind of way.”
 
“He was such a wonderful person who represented Linfield with such class in all that he was involved in. I remember going to his home every Monday night for Senior Thesis Night. Those were always a lot of fun.”
 
“Craig gave me the job as general manager of the Linfield radio station and that experience had a huge impact on my broadcasting career that's now lasted 42 years. I'm going to miss him.”
 
STEVE OLESEN '92
Broadcast student, owner Oleson Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants
“Dr. Singletary was a mentor to me during my time in the communications program at Linfield. His distinctive voice booming over Maxwell Field on Saturday afternoon was synonymous with Linfield football. To me, Doc was Linfield.”
 
“Doc represented the classic broadcasting style with his voice and approach. He was a role model for what a professional broadcaster should be and he passed those expectations onto his students. He emphasized to us ‘Whatever you do, you should do it well.'”
 
“I remember having a lot of fun in his class. He gave us a lot of freedom for creativity as we worked on class projects together. It was some of those projects that led to many of my closest friendships. He fostered a close community of communication department students and we all enjoyed collaborating with one another.”
 
“When I returned to visit Linfield after graduating, it was often for football games. Coming to campus on fall Saturdays and hearing his voice echo across campus always made me feel like I was back home.”