LSUSports.net announced Wednesday that LSU play-by-play commentator Jim Hawthorne, who has been calling LSU events for the past 35 years will retire at the end of the basketball season next year.

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“I have been exceptionally blessed and extremely fortunate to have been part of the LSU Radio broadcast team for more than 30 years,” Hawthorne said. “But, now it has come time to prepare to step aside and move into a new phase in my life. At the end of the 2015-16 basketball season I will retire from this position. At the age of 71, I look very much forward to spending more time visiting my family and traveling with my wife and best friend, Carol.

“I want to sincerely thank the LSU administration, all of the coaches I have had the pleasure to work with and the entire Fighting Tiger nation for their support. It has meant more to me than I could possibly describe. I also want to wish, for whomever is chosen to take over these responsibilities, the very best. I hope he will understand what a gift he has been given and has the chance to experience many years as ‘The Voice of the Tigers' and the thrills it has given me.”

LSU Sports Information Michael Bonnette writes that "a nationwide search for Hawthorne's successor will begin in the spring."

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Tiger in Texas•110 months

As a kid, I grew up listening to John Ferguson, and around the time I left Louisiana for work is when Jim Hawthorn came on and was a worthy replacement. Before the internet and most games being on cable, AM radio was vital to keep up with LSU! Hawthorne was a true gentleman like Ferguson before him. The next hire has some big shoes to follow.

MottLaneKid•110 months

Best of luck to Jim and his family. A true gentleman. His voice will be missed.

dustytiger123•110 months

Frank Hoffman... my vote for his replacement...

BBATiger•110 months

That's Sean McDonough calling the Morris Home Run, not JH.

OzChuffnugg•110 months

Much love and respect! He will be missed!

Snakebucket•110 months

"Jack Hunt." Sorry, had to do that. JH will be missed.

SoulGlo•110 months

Thanks for the memories, Jack... oh, Jim.

Seriously though, huge memories have his voice engrained in them. He'll be missed.

GCHunter•110 months

Frying beagle you are no doubt a young pos who knows nothing about what Jim Hawthorne has given to LSU.

iknowmorethanyou•110 months

The decline is real.

BTRDD•110 months

At the end of the 2015-16 basketball season I will retire from this position. Wait, it's after the 2016-17 basketbll season. No, it's after the football season. I don't know what just happened.

Spankum•110 months

Before the days when all LSU games were on tv, Jim H was truly "the voice of the tigers"...the thought of that voice coming over a crackly AM raido brings back some real memories...

tensasparishtiger•110 months

Ban Frying Beagle!!

G I Jeaux•110 months

Jim, you will be missed.

Tiger Chemist•110 months

Thanks Jim!!!

KiwiHead•110 months

Kaare Johnson.... Chinah Doooowwwll or maybe Deke Bellavia " da Big Chief" .Just kidding of course. I guess Charlie would be good, but I really think Gordy Rush has THE VOICE for it.

I wish though, that there was another Jim Henderson out there or someone on the level of a Jack Cristal who used to do Miss State broadcasts. In my mind those guys are some of the best play by play guys ever in Southern football whether they be pro or college

9Fiddy•110 months

Hanagriff please

logjamming•110 months

Jim Hawthorne: Negatiger, est. 1981.

CSATiger•110 months

Good luck Jim! don not like "a nationwide search", need someone with Louisiana roots.....except brando

deathvalleyfreak43•110 months

Gonna be strange not hearing his voice on saturdays

Chris Warner•110 months

great career. Thanks Jim.

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