Gene Honda

{{Short description|American sports announcer}}

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| name = Gene Honda

| image = Eugene "Gene" Honda.jpg

| caption = Honda at the Allstate Arena in 2010

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Eugene "Gene" Honda is a public address announcer for the Chicago White Sox (starting in 1985, full-time since 1991),{{Cite web |last=Gregor |first=Scot |date=2014-06-22 |title=P.A announcer Gene Honda the busiest man in Chicago sports |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20140622/pro-sports/p-a-announcer-gene-honda-the-busiest-man-in-chicago-sports/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Daily Herald |language=en-US}} Chicago Blackhawks (succeeding Harvey Wittenberg since the 2001–02 season),{{Cite web |last=Content |first=Contributed |date=2001-09-08 |title=Honda in, Wittenberg out as Hawks’ announcer |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/09/08/honda-in-wittenberg-out-as-hawks-announcer/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}} DePaul Blue Demons basketball, Big Ten tournament, Illinois Fighting Illini football (since 2012),{{cite web |url=http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050113aab.html |title=FIGHTINGILLINI.COM - Illini Nation: We Heard You! |website=www.fightingillini.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625082156/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050113aab.html |archive-date=2013-06-25}} and the NCAA Final Four (2003-2024).{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140622/sports/140629743/|title = P.A announcer Gene Honda the busiest man in Chicago sports|date = 22 June 2014}} He is also a constant voice on Chicago's PBS station WTTW Channel 11, the Big Ten Network, and the Chicago Marathon. He formerly worked for radio station WLAK (now WLIT) in Chicago.{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/tv/supp_info/gene_honda.html |title=City of Chicago: Gene Honda |publisher=City of Chicago.org |access-date=2010-05-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712175852/http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/tv/supp_info/gene_honda.html |archive-date=2010-07-12 }} Honda was the PA announcer for the 2009 NHL Winter Classic on January 1 at Wrigley Field. Additionally, he was the PA announcer for the 2012 Frozen Four at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.{{cite web | url=http://www.uscho.com/frozen-four/2012/04/07/the-voice-the-man-behind-the-mic/ | title = The Voice: The man behind the mic | publisher = USCHO | access-date = 2012-04-15}}

Honda is the only person to have announced at the MLB World Series, MLB All Star Game, NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, NCAA Final Four, and NCAA Frozen Four.{{cite news |last=Halligan |first=Shannon |url=https://wgntv.com/news/cover-story/gene-honda-one-of-the-only-asian-american-pa-announcers-in-professional-sports/ |title=Gene Honda: One of the only Asian American PA announcers in professional sports |work=WGN-TV |date=May 19, 2023 |accessdate=May 20, 2023 }}

Honda was born and raised on Chicago's north side to Japanese American parents. He attended Senn High School and graduated in 1972. He later attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he studied engineering, finance, and broadcasting.{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Charlotte |url=https://dailyillini.com/sports-stories/2016/12/08/behind-voice-gene-honda-looks-back-start/ |title=Behind the voice: Gene Honda looks back to the start |work=The Daily Illini |date=December 6, 2016 |accessdate=May 20, 2023 }} Honda spent the next 18 years working at the University of Illinois' radio station, WPGU. Honda's interest in broadcasting was sparked by his father, who wanted his son to improve his public speaking skills.

Honda appeared briefly in the 1990 film Opportunity Knocks as Mr. Nimoku.{{cite web |url= http://library.digiguide.com/lib/person/Gene+Honda-164107 |title = DigiGuide Library: Gene Honda |publisher = Digi Guide.com| access-date =2010-05-14}}

Honda also is a teacher for the After School Matters (ASM) Sports Broadcasting program at Curie High School.

On October 11, 2008, Honda was inducted into the Illini Media Alumni Hall of Fame.{{cite news |last=Donahue |first=Kit |url=http://alumni.illinimedia.com/posts/view/102 |title=2008 Hall of Fame class announced |work=Illini Media |publisher=University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |date=July 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012011932/http://alumni.illinimedia.com/posts/view/102 |accessdate=May 20, 2023 |archive-date=2008-10-12 }}