It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the sad news that our friend and longtime colleague Terry Stultz has passed away. Terry had been with WGCL for nearly 20 years. He was an excellent broadcaster but more importantly, a great father and a loyal, caring friend.
Obituary and Memorial Information
A Lifelong Friend – by Mike Glasscott
People forget I talk for a living, not write for a living.
I enjoy being live on the radio because my words have to matter now in the immediacy, not under the microscope of editors and Grammarly.
I’ve tried to write my thoughts on Terry for the last five hours and have crumbled up the e-paper and tossed it in the trash each time.
Terry was the best.
I told him that after every show.
Putting up with me twice a week isn’t easy. He never batted an eye and we did great radio. Radio is family. Big brother. Little brother. Whatever. It didn’t have to have a name.
Most Fridays we’d go to the pub after work for our “board meeting” as he loved to call it. Terry loved being on the radio. And he was our biggest cheerleader. He couldn’t wait to tell people about South, North or Edgewood, or the next big IU game or how the Pacers were going to rebuild their current situation
Terry was real.
If you were a dumbass, he probably let you know and he probably wasn’t wrong. He loved Bloomington and all of its flaws and features. He never hesitated to introduce me to the “old school” even though I wasn’t born and raised here. I’m glad I passed his test so we could enjoy the times away from the radio together.
Times changed. Terry didn’t.
Before kids in my life, we’d hang after hours in his garage watching hoops and having a few cold ones. Watching the Hoosiers and Pacers fall short. Solving the world’s problems. As the years tumbled on, life turned to more important things. We stopped wasting our time off the air on superfluous subject matter such as the Dodgers, Yankees or basketball. Rather we spent it on how Shelby was getting on with Charlie and the new baby and the newest one on the way. How he mastered the art of getting his granddaughter to sleep. How he was sure he would do the same for the next one. As my kids grew up he would come to their games and check out how they were doing. Holidays and birthdays. Hand-me-down gear. Sat in the stands and watched regardless of whether or not he thought the coaches knew what they were doing.
We bonded over sports and radio. We worked together in radio and sports.
But our relationship wasn’t about sports or radio and that’s why Monday was impossible.
I’ll find someone else to join me on the air, eventually, maybe.
I won’t find someone to replace Terry.
Always Growing, Never to be Forgotten – by Joe Smith
A few years ago at the end of another highly successful season of calling high school basketball, on the trip home Terry asked me quite candidly, “How can I get better?”
I said, “You did today and you’ll do it tomorrow and in future years. Why? Because You CARE.” When I had my accident 6 years ago, Terry and Mike Glasscott didn’t miss a beat, and after I returned I could see the work Terry put forth. While I know in the back of his mind he was trying to please me, it was Terry that made leaps with regards to his on-air presence, and his overall confidence. Bottom line – he got better.
Little did I know our Semistate trip to New Castle would be our last. He was happy his ailing brother was feeling better, always talked about his mom and their Sunday gatherings, being a grandad, and babysitting so Shelby and Charlie could go out after an IU game. And he SO much looked forward to the new arrival.
On the way home, he made a comment about using Monday to start the ball rolling on a new knee so he could play golf, “Hey! These next few weeks are all about me!” He was looking forward to Spring, sitting outside my place with his Miller Lite and me with my Ultra.
While I’m still coming to grips with his sudden passing, I watched a very passionate man go about his trade. I told him once, “You’re a natural.” He’d always fist bump just prior to air – “All Right let’s get it after it.”
I’ll miss that. “Stats with Stultz” and the road trips home from cutting down nets in Columbus, Center Grove, Seymour, and a few other outposts – stopping occasionally for “a Road Pop.”
“How can I get better?” You did Terry, by being you. I’ll miss you so much my friend.
This is absolutely gut wrenching. What a beautiful tribute by Glass and Joe. Terry’s passing is shocking and just sad. He was a friend since 7th grade, will miss running into him at Krogers, which was frequent. RIP buddy. 💔
This is a tough one, so soon after Dave Jack. Thanks Glass and Joe for doing this. See ya soon.
As an architect-I knew Terry in our industry first-then “radio” Terry came to life. I always teased him about something I might have heard him mutter on air-mostly because I liked to hear him laugh, sometimes, just because he expected me to take a dig at him. I only recently saw him at the Bloomington Home Show-doing what he always did-helping people make good decisions. He always had a story too. I wished I had been able to share a beer with him-I guess I will always wish that now. He brought radio to life. His voice was the voice on air of an everyday person-although he had more knowledge than you, he never made a listener feel like he was smarter-to the contrary, he made you feel like your best friend was on the radio calling the game. Rest in piece Terry.
On Saturday, following his last broadcast, Terry and Joe Smith spent probably 20 minutes talking to and mentoring my WBDG broadcast crew. Terry was so humble and the advice he gave my students was so valuable. I hope that those two young men take those lessons they learned in a short period of time and also the lesson that tomorrow is never guaranteed. How you will be remembered is how you treat people. Terry and Joe could have shaken a quick hand and given a couple of words, but they took the time to get to know my student broadcasters and impart a lot of wisdom in our short meeting. It’s even more poignant now knowing that this was in the final hours of Terry’s life. Thank you for that time, Terry. On behalf of the entire staff of WBDG, we send our condolences to Terry’s family and friends.
I absolutely love the writings of Mike and Joe. You both nailed the “true Terry”. What a genuine, unique man he was. He absolutely lived life to the fullest- and you co-workers were a pride he spoke of offer too. Rest in peace Terry. You will be dearly missed.
Beautiful words.
I first met Terry Stultz 55 years ago on, appropriately enough, a basketball court. Our teams were fierce competitors in junior high, but we went on to become teammates at Bloomington South from 1970-1973. As second-stringers, we developed a strong bond on the bench and were each other’s biggest cheerleaders when we finally saw some action. Out team was mediocre at best, although we managed to pull an upset by winning our Sectional tournament in 1973 — a feat that Terry never let anyone forget! Terry was as close to me as me as my own brothers, not just on the court, but throughout my entire life. A man could not have asked for a better friend. My one regret is that Terry played before the 3-point shot went into effect. When his game was on, his long-range shooting was truly a thing of beauty. I have no doubt that Terry’s first act in Heaven was to challenge St. Peter to a friendly game of one-on-one. Rest in peace, my friend. You will be missed and remembered.
a very good human being.
RI☮️
I’ve known Terry the better part of my life. We had mutual friends and were teammates in summer softball leagues years ago. Went to a couple Pacer games together. Consider myself one member of his very large circle of friends over the years. Still texted each other occasionally.
Terry dated my ex wife for a long period of time. Still friends and no awkwardness. I always told anyone who asked, if she were to remarry, I hoped it would be to Terry. Because my son would have a stepfather whom I respected and liked. How rare is that? Just a great compliment to him as a man.
Rest in peace my friend
Touching tributes guys. Gone too soon.
For several years I tried to convince Terry to go back to school and become a basketball coach. I believed that was his calling.
I was wrong. Sharing his love and knowledge of basketball was his calling. Bloomington will miss that voice. Those who knew him will miss him.
Very touching tribute to a great person. He’ll be missed. RIP, Terry.
Terry was a great guy and these stories and comments tell that story. He always had a smile that made you smile.
Gone too soon. RIP buddy. You will be missed.
WGCL listeners lost a great friend.
Terry made us all feel like he was talking to us.