Remembering Mike Greene: A legend in local sports broadcasting

Mike Greene was the voice of area high school sports.

The Cleveland native broadcast hundreds and hundreds of football and basketball games during his career while also attracting big-name interviews such as Walter Payton, Bobby Knight and Muhammad Ali.

Greene, 79, passed away Friday following a previous fall at his residence.

In 1961, Greene graduated from Shelby High School. He attended Vanderbilt University to play football before going to Muskingum College, where he earned a degree in communications.

While there, he met fraternity brother and lifelong friend Jack Hanna, who went on to become director of the Columbus Zoo.

Jack and wife Suzi posted a tribute to Greene on the website of Snyder Funeral Homes.

"No one had a more friendly, energetic smile than Mike, radiating his compassionate, caring nature, infused with his wonderful sense of humor! It was a complete joy to be around Mike and be encompassed with his positive personality," they wrote. "He was so accomplished in everything he achieved, and he leaves behind a remarkable legacy, making this a better world through his acts of kindness!

"We will miss our special friend, Mike, but the beauty is he will always be alive in our hearts! We loved our buddy Mike dearly and look forward to seeing him in heaven!"

Greene started his sports career in 1967 as a reporter with WNCO radio in Ashland. He became sports director for WMAN radio in Mansfield in 1970.

Mike Greene started at WMFD-TV in 1990

In 1990, Greene found his niche as sports director at WMFD-TV. He is probably best known for his work there, through his nightly sportscasts, weekly "Sports Talk" program and play-by-play commentary for thousands of high school sporting events.

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"He was so knowledgeable about sports," former WMFD News Director Jane Imbody said.

She added Greene treated everyone the same.

"He could comfortably interview anybody," Imbody said.

She said he loved to laugh and joke and talked about his family "all the time."

"A lot of my favorite memories at WMFD are either guests that Mike brought in for 'Sports Talk' or the animals (through Hanna)," Imbody said. "He was definitely a good co-worker. He made me better at my job."

Greene leaves behind four children and six grandchildren, along with wife Pam Wilging, his partner of 42 years.

"Mike had a great sense of humor, compassion and love for people, as well as adoration for his children and grandchildren and his extreme love of all of us," Wilging said.

She called her husband a "giver" who went out of his way for people.

Greene was able to attract big names to "Sports Talk" and could secure celebrities for speaking engagements as well.

Wilging recalled an interview Greene did with longtime college basketball coach Bobby Knight, who was no friend of the media.

Afterwards, Knight told Wilging that he had been interviewed by a lot of people, "but nobody close to this."

High praise indeed.

Greene's favorite interview may have been with famed heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali. Wilging said Greene found Ali "profound."

Mike Greene counted many celebrities like Jim Tressel and the Harbaughs as friends

Greene counted among his famous sports friends the Gottfried and Harbaugh families and former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel.

He was a gifted storyteller who could be seen around town at many Mansfield functions. Through the years he emceed numerous events, including the Mansfield Town Roast and the Resurrection Breakfast, where in April of 2017, he shared his testimony of how he gave his life to Jesus Christ.

In 2001, Greene retired from his broadcasting career to focus on economic development for the region as president of REDeC (Richland Economic Development Corp.) with a primary focus on saving the 179th Airlift Wing from the military’s “base realignment and closure” list.

Through his consulting and networking company MiGreps, Greene collaborated with several local companies and served as a feature writer for Heart of Ohio magazine.

Greene also wrote occasional columns for the News Journal in recent years.

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Still, he will probably be best remembered for his sports broadcasting.

Brad Forster was one of Greene's hires at WMFD.

"Mike gave me my first job out of college as a sportscaster at WMFD. He was my mentor and champion. He believed in my talent, but unfortunately a couple of youthful mistakes took me off track," Forster wrote on the tribute wall. "Now, as a successful businessman, I look back at those WMFD learning lessons and thank Mike for his tough love and guidance.

"I love you, Mike, and I thank you for giving me the kick in the ass I needed as a stubborn young kid. You made me a better person."

Senator remembers Greene

Ohio Sen. Mark Romanchuk weighed in on Facebook.

"Mike was a friend to all. He was my friend for over 20 years, and I will always cherish our time spent together," Romanchuk wrote. "He had a unique way of bringing a smile to your face with his wit and sense of humor. My life was better for having known Mike, and the world was a better place with him in it. RIP, my friend."

The Greene family will receive guests from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Ontario Crossroads Community Church, 636 S. Lexington-Springmill Road.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Shelby grad Mike Green interviewed everyone from Ali to local QBs