Ulysses Native and Sports Broadcasting Icon Returns to Kansas

Ulysses native Gary Bender enjoyed quite a journey before returning home. Bender, after a 45 year broadcasting career and 18 years announcing the Phoenix Suns, will return to Kansas. The 70 year old Bender will be a consultant for the University of Kansas. Bender called NFL games for CBS from 1975 to 1986. He also was the network’s NBA Finals voice in 1981 and called the Final Four, the first three televised by CBS, from 1982 to 1984. He worked college football and Major League Baseball for ABC in the late 1980s and called Sunday night NFL games for TNT from 1992 to 1994. Bender will return to KU where he earned his master’s degree, to serve as a consultant for the school’s alumni association. His son Trey Bender was a former announcer at KSCB.