Bill Davidge, a prominent figure in the Ohio hockey scene and a long-time announcer for the Columbus Blue Jackets, passed away on Tuesday, the team shared on Wednesday.
He was 72 years old.
Known affectionately as “Dapper” by colleagues—because he always dressed sharply and styled his hair impeccably—Davidge left a significant mark in the hockey community throughout Ohio.
Davidge had a solid playing career, spending four years at Ohio State University, where he captained the team in the 1976-77 season.
Not long after, he joined Miami University of Ohio as a part of the coaching staff and eventually became the head coach in 1985.
In 1997, when the announcement came that Columbus would host an expansion franchise, Davidge signed on as an amateur scout for two years before the team’s inaugural season.
When the Blue Jackets hit the ice in 2000, he was in the broadcast booth as a color commentator until health issues led him to retire at 64. He witnessed the franchise’s first playoff series victory in 2019, which was quite a notable moment against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
One of his well-loved catchphrases was, “Oh, baby, you better believe it.”
Longtime broadcasting partner George Matthews reminisced about Davidge’s life, saying, “No one has enjoyed their time on this earth more than Billy D.”
“He lived life to the fullest. He made the world a better place. He will be missed by everyone whose lives he touched.”
The Blue Jackets released a heartfelt statement on Wednesday afternoon.
“The Columbus Blue Jackets are deeply saddened by the passing of Bill Davidge, a 20-year scout with the club and longtime color analyst on radio and television,” the statement noted.
“For our organization, no one was a better advocate and ambassador for our team and our sport than Bill. If the Blue Jackets were anywhere in the community, there’s a good chance Bill was there making an impact. There were no strangers in his world, only friends.”
