Keith Bradley, the Voice of the Congress, passed away July 20, 2012 from complications of pneumonia, diabetes and heart disease.
Bradley, of Bowling Green, Ohio, announced thousands of Quarter Horse Congress Champions over the years, as well as owning and operating Bradley Real Estate and Auction Service.
Bradley has won numerous awards for not only his distinctive voice, but also for his service to the equine, real estate and auction industries. He has been inducted into four hall of fames, including the All American Quarter Horse Congress (1996), Wood County Board of Realtors (2004), Ohio Auctioneers’ Association (2006) and National Reining Horse Association (2007).
Arrangements are pending at Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home in Bowling Green.
The Ohio Quarter Horse Association will greatly miss Keith Bradley and we send our deepest condolences to his entire family.
GoHorseShow also talked to fellow announcer Boris Kook of Germany who worked with Bradley in the past and he was kind enough to share his thoughts about this beloved man.
“He was great to work with,” Kook says. “I first met him in 2007, and he was so funny,
told one joke after the other.
He would be on the microphone, all serious, announcing the next rider,
turn it off, turn around and tell a joke. He knew hundreds.”
Kook adds, “I
obviously had a lot of respect for his vast experience and I loved
listening to his stories from past horse shows. And he treated me just
like a fellow announcer. Not like a rookie, not like competition.”
What did Boris learn from him? “He told me to be myself and develop my own
style on the microphone. Something that I have been trying to do ever
since. But here in Europe I must admit that I copied him somewhat. It is
one of the greatest feelings that I know. After a great reining run the
crowd’s noise dies down in anticipation, you say “THE SCORE…” and
5000 people just erupt. I was addicted on the first try. He was a great personality and I wish I would have gotten to see him again before he passed.”
