An award honouring longtime play-by-play commentator Bob Ridley will be presented for the first time at an upcoming ceremony.
—
READ: Ridley retiring after more than 50 years as the voice of the Tigers
—
The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will bestow its inaugural Bob Ridley “Golden Microphone” Honourarium at its 2025 Wall of Honour induction dinner.
The award is a salute to Bob Ridley, the retired longtime radio voice — and bus driver — with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
Ridley announced his retirement in August 2022 after calling more than 4,000 games over 52 seasons.
He also drove the team bus for 45 of those seasons. After the Tigers entered the WHL for the 1970-71 season, Ridley was their only play-by-play voice until his retirement.
The Ridley tribute will recognize a member of the media or broadcasting profession for their dedicated years of service at the Major Junior level.
A donation will be made on their behalf to an individual or charity of their choosing, thus providing the recipient assistance with educational or medical support
This award fits in perfectly with the Foundation’s long-range vision of wanting “to give back to charities, communities and individuals who could benefit from our support and financial assistance,” WCPHSF president Erin Ginnell said in a statement.
So far, the foundation has provided financial assistance to a scout who needed help due to medical difficulties, and the Bear Clan Bow River, which does work where it is needed in Calgary.
The foundation also worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help a youngster from Vancouver get to his first NHL game, according to the group.
“I’m very honoured and humbled to have this honourarium put in my name and proud to be a part of this foundation moving forward,” Ridley said in a statement.
“I’ve always had respect for the NHL scouts and the travel and hard work that goes into their job.”
It’s not the first time an award has been named in Ridley’s honour.
In 2021, the WHL unveiled the Bob Ridley Award for Media Excellence, presented annually to a distinguished member of the radio, television and print journalism industry in recognition of their outstanding contribution to sports journalism and the WHL.
Ridley’s scouts foundation award joins two others in the Foundation’s library, along with the Ace Award and the Two Glens’ Honourarium.
The Ace Award honours the memory of Garnet “Ace” Bailey, a longtime scout who was aboard the second plane that was flown into the World Trade Center in New York City on 9/11.
The Two Glens’ Honourarium, which was announced earlier this month, is in memory of Glen Cochrane and Glen Dirk, a pair of veteran scouts both of whom died due to cancer earlier this year.
All three of the foundation’s awards will be presented during its annual Wall of Honour induction dinner, organizers said.
The foundation is working on selecting a date for the 2025 dinner, according to a news release.
The foundation’s selection committee is putting together its list of 2025 Wall of Honour inductees. Those names are expected to be announced in January.
