University of Richmond Athletics
UR Hall Of Famer Frank Soden Dies At 91
12/06/2010 | General
Dec. 6, 2010
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -
Frank Soden, who broadcast Spider basketball from 1950-1980 and football from 1969-1980, died Sunday in Richmond at 91. Mr. Soden also served as baseball broadcaster for the Triple-A Richmond Virginians and Braves. He was a UR athletic administrator from 1969 until his retirement in 1984 and was inducted into the UR Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.
In addition to his inclusion in the UR Athletics Hall of Fame, Mr. Soden was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame in 2000. The Richmond Broadcasters Hall of Fame named its lifetime achievement award in his honor.
"Frank could say `No' to no one. He loved his community," former UR Athletic Director Chuck Boone told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "Any time he was asked to do anything in this community, no matter what, he could not say 'No.' He did so many things for so many organizations."
"Frank was the first broadcaster I worked with when I came to Richmond as the Braves announcer fresh out of college," said Bob Black, UR's play-by-play voice and Assistant Athletic Director for Communications. "I had heard so much about him. I was nervous and in awe the first time I met him and broadcast a game with him. It was immediately obvious how well-liked and respected he was from everyone he came in contact with - and how he treated everyone with such kindness and caring."
Mr. Soden began his career in 1948 in Richmond at WXGI-AM, now the Spiders' flagship station for football and basketball broadcasts. He was general manager and executive vice president of WRNL radio in Richmond for more than 20 years. He hosted Battle of the Brains on television from 1980 to 1994.
Funeral arrangements are tentative and will be announced shortly by the family.