Wes Durham, the voice of the Atlanta Falcons, will be among those inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame this fall. Now entering his 12th season with the Falcons, Durham, 49, arrived at Tech in 1995 and spent 18 years with the institution.
"It's a little overwhelming, only because you don't really think about something like that," said Durham, the son of legendary North Carolina Tar Heels broadcaster Woody Durham. "I've heard a lot of players say that. When I got word of it a couple weeks ago, and I thought about the support I got — I guess it kind of validates your work."
Durham can be heard along with Dave Archer this season on 92.9 The Game on Falcons gamedays.
The Elon University graduate witnessed plenty of memorable moments during his nearly two decades at Tech. He fondly remembers 2004, when the men's basketball team reached the National Championship; in 2009, Paul Johnson's first at GT, he and the Jackets enjoyed an ACC title and an Orange Bowl appearance.
Durham can recall many more cherished times, and their significance can always be traced back to those who joined him along the way.
"In the case of Georgia Tech, it's eerily similar to the Falcons, because the people there were unbelievable," said Durham, who noted how important various sports information directors, coaches and players were to his job. "The friendships that I've built — that all counts to me."
Eight others will join Durham in the 2015 class — including Olympian high jumper Chaunte Lowe, former running back Joe Burns and softball pitcher Jessica (Sallinger) Cole. The induction will take place on Oct. 16, the night before Georgia Tech faces off against Pittsburgh at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
"It will be important for everyone to know how much I appreciate their support," he said. "Not just coaches and administrators and former athletes, but also the fans. The people who come there that night, I think your message has to be about what they meant to you.
"And hopefully the Falcons will come off a big win against New Orleans the night before."
