LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and accomplishments of Voice
of the Buffalo Bills Van Miller

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding sports announcers who distinguish themselves through their
exceptional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and
WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow and deep regret that this Legislative
Body records the passing of Van Miller, noting the significance of his
purposeful life and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller, Voice of the Buffalo Bills and television sports
anchor, died on Friday, July 17, 2015, in the Town of Tonawanda, New
York, at the age of 87; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller will be remembered as the most versatile play-by-
play man in Buffalo sports history, delivering unforgettable calls which
became part of Western New York's sports history; and
WHEREAS, Born in Buffalo, New York's Millard Fillmore Hospital in
1927, Van Miller was raised by his mother, Esther, in Dunkirk, New York;
and
WHEREAS, At the young age of 10, Van Miller was often found practicing
his future craft in his backyard, pretending to announce University of
Notre Dame football games; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller started his illustrious career in 1949, at a
Dunkirk, New York, radio station, WFCB; a man of many talents, he
covered many different genres such as wrestling, basketball, morning
shows, farm shows, quiz shows, and music shows; and
WHEREAS, After serving in the United States Army for a short time, he
worked a few more years in Dunkirk and then landed a job at WHLD-AM in
Niagara Falls, New York; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller married his wife, Gloria, and together they raised
their two children; he was then hired a few days later at WBEN radio and
Channel 4, a position he held until 1998; and
WHEREAS, After Ralph Wilson bought the Buffalo Bills, his first gener-
al manager, Dick Gallagher, decided Van Miller would announce the games
after WBEN got the rights; and
WHEREAS, As the Voice of the Buffalo Bills, Van Miller perhaps became
best known for a signature call in which he explained "Fandemonium"
breaking out after games in the Bills' glory days in the 1990s; he is
also remembered for advising fans to "fasten your seatbelts" before
every game and used the expression, "Do you believe?" after big moments
in games; and
WHEREAS, An inductee of six Halls of Fame, Van Miller became the first
local broadcaster to accept the Pete Rozelle Award at a Hall of Fame
dinner before an audience of 4,000 in Canton, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, A natural storyteller, Van Miller's biography, FASTEN YOUR
SEATBELTS: THE VAN MILLER STORY, written by Rob R. Thompson, had enter-
taining tales to tell about Van's attempts to imitate fabled broadcaster
Bill Stern as a child, his influence on the early days of the Buffalo
Bills and on local television, and his playful sense of humor; and
WHEREAS, In December of 2003, at the age 76, Van Miller proudly called
his last Buffalo Bills game; throughout his illustrious tenure, he
announced games for 37 seasons; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his invaluable role with the Buffalo Bills,
Van Miller also did play-by-play for Buffalo Braves games in the
National Basketball Association, and Niagara University basketball
games, as well as University at Buffalo basketball games; and

WHEREAS, Moreover, Van Miller broadcast Buffalo Bisons baseball games
during the days of the Boswell sisters, who were fictitious fans he
invented to enliven his Bisons broadcasts in his early play-by-play days
via ticker tape; and
WHEREAS, Van Miller is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gloria, his
daughter, Cathy, and one son, Van, Jr., as well as three grandchildren;
and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Van Miller leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the
passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he served
and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and accomplishments of Voice of the Buffalo Bills Van
Miller; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Van Miller.