ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University Athletic Department is mourning the loss of longtime public address announcer and 2024 Concord Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Tom Bone.
Bone served for 26 years as Concord's public address announcer for football and men's and women's basketball. The native of nearby Union, West Virginia took over the microphone from Harry Finkelman prior to the 1999 football season, and was the voice of the Mountain Lions from 1999 until his death earlier this week. Bone's final call behind the mic was CU's Homecoming football game against West Virginia State October 11.
Since 1948, the only public address announcers for Concord football have been Bone and Finkelman, covering 77 years between them.
Last fall, Bone became a member of the Concord Hall of Fame with his induction for meritorious service to the University.
In his hall of fame speech in October 2024, Bone said, "When a by-stander sees somewhere wearing a shirt with a college's name on it, he or she can't help but judge that institution partly by the behavior of the person who is wearing its name. So, when you're wearing a Concord shirt and even when you're not, you are an ambassador for Concord University.
"I urge to remember that and to live out that responsibility to make your alma mater proud," Bone said in closing.
Not only did Bone supply his voice to Concord Athletics, he wrote countless articles on the Mountain Lions as a beat writer for CU for
The Bluefield Daily-Telegraph. Bone worked for the BDT for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2018. Still in retirement, Bone supplied stories on Concord for the newspaper on a part-time basis.
On Tuesday, Concord University put out the following statement:
To Concord University, Tom Bone was many things: an alumnus of 1976, a retired director of public information after 20 years of service, a public address announcer in athletics since 1999, a Hall of Fame inductee in 2024, and a lifelong supporter of this institution. Tom's commitment to Concord was unwavering, and his positive spirit throughout all seasons of life was inspiring.
The Mountain Lion community is in mourning, and we extend our sympathies to Tom's family and the many others throughout the region who had the pleasure to work and serve with him.
NOTE: Lindsey Byars, Concord University Director of Marketing and Public Relations, also contributed to this story.Â
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