By Jim Henry, Democrat sports editor
Published by the Tallahassee Democrat on April 17, 2017
Nick Menacof
greeted people with a warm smile and clear, distinct voice.
He always had something special for Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden, too.
“Anytime I saw him, he’d give me a cigar because he knew I liked to chew on them,” Bowden said Monday afternoon.
“This past Christmas, just for the fun of it, he sent me a couple. He was really good to me. Nick was a very dependable, likable guy. I never heard him have a harsh word with anyone.”
Menacof, who served as the FSU football team’s public address announcer for 25 years before retiring following the 2009 season, died Monday morning following a recent stroke.
He was 81.
Menacof, an FSU alum, also was the voice for FSU men’s basketball for 10 years and baseball for a short time.
Additionally, he supervised the football team’s dormitory at Burt Reynolds Hall and officiated high school football games and FSU practices and scrimmages, including this spring.
Derrick Richardson, a fellow official in the Big Bend Football Association, was teamed with Menacof for 20 years.
“I still am in shock,” said Richardson, a senior manager for the Department of Financial Services.
“Nick was like another parent to me. Everybody liked him. He always had a smile on his face and always had something funny to say – usually at my expense. Just a great guy.”
Menacof, who played basketball and ran track at FSU, first started as the public address announcer for Marianna High football. He served as the voice of FSU baseball and basketball in addition to football.
Asked to select a sport since the FSU administration wanted a different voice for each, Menacof settled on football in 1984.
He never missed a home game at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Menacof always credited his spotters, Doug Woodlief and Dave Westbury, for making his job easier.
Menacof also always made a point to emphasize a FSU first down or touchdown during games.
"I've met so many great people and I want people to know that the PA job is not tough,” Menacof said during a 2006 interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.
“What is tough is the two spotters I have and they are wonderful and make it every easy for the PA man. I try to make it as interesting as possible as far as who does run the ball, who does make the tackle.
“We have numerous announcements during the ballgame and at halftime, so I try to give that as much emphasis as I possibly can.”
Retired FSU Associate Director of Athletics Andy Urbanic was in charge of football operations and worked closely with Menacof for many years.
“Nick was such a good person,” said Urbanic, who recently moved to Tampa.
“He did a lot of things behind the scenes that people just didn’t realize. He had a great rapport with the players and their parents. He was well thought off throughout the organization.”
Menacof
was replaced as FSU’s public address announcer for home football games by
Woody Hayes in April, 2010.
From the BEVIS FUNERAL HOME
Nick was born on November 8, 1935 and passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2017. Nick was a resident of Tallahassee, Florida at the time of passing. He graduated from Miami Edison High School and received his Bachelor's degree from Florida State University, while attending FSU Nick ran track and played on the basketball team.