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Max Falkenstien

Sportscaster. Born: April 9, 1924, Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas.

Max Falkenstien was born on April 9, 1924, in Lawrence, Douglas County, to parents Earl and Edith (Gosper) Falkenstien.

While attending Lawrence High School, he worked part-time as announcer at WREN radio. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After returning he broadcast his first college game between the University of Kansas (KU) and Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Oklahoma State University) in the 1946 NCAA Basketball Tournament. At KU he earned a degree in mathematics in 1947. He has since broadcast more than 600 KU football games and 1,570 KU basketball games. Falkenstien began the KU Sports Network. Falkenstien later served as director of the KU Alumni Association.

He served as president of the Kansas Association of Radio Broadcasters and Rotary Club of Topeka. He chaired the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees. He was on the boards of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce and Topeka Country Club. He was inducted into the KU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2000, and Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He was named the Native Sons and Daughters’ Kansan of the Year in 2006.

During his long career he earned him the nickname “Voice of the Jayhawks.” He retired in 2006.

Entry: Falkenstien, Max

Author: Kansas Historical Society

Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.

Date Created: June 2012

Date Modified: October 2017

The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.