Woody Durham, former voice of Tar Heels, dead at 76

The family of Woody Durham, the former voice of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, announced that he died Wednesday. He was 76 years old.

According to the family, he passed just before 1 a.m. in his home from primary progressive aphasia, a progressive disease that affects a person's ability to communicate. He passed away peacefully after receiving hospice care earlier in the week, the family said. In June 2017, he told the community in a letter that he was battling the disease.

Durham was the play-by-play announcer for the Tar Heels' men's basketball and football teams from 1971 to 2011. He was born in Mebane, N.C. and graduated from UNC in 1963. He was named the North Carolina Sportscaster of the year 13 times and was also a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. In 2015, he received the Bob Cousy Award from the Naismith Hall of Fame, basketball broadcasting's highest honor.

"Our family is grateful for the incredible support my dad and our family received throughout his illness," said Wes Durham. "From the medical teams to the general public, it's been amazing. We hold to and will always cherish the wonderful memories he left for our family and Carolina fans throughout the world."

"It's a very sad day for everyone who loves the University of North Carolina because we have lost someone who spent nearly 50 years as one of its greatest champions and ambassadors," said UNC men's basketball coach Roy Williams.

Durham will be honored by Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association at the 2018 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament with the Bob Bradley Spirit and Courage Award. The award is to recognize the grace and dignity with which in recent years he publicly dealt with PAP, school officials said.