Former ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Ron Franklin has died. He was 79.

Franklin was a longtime voice for the network, primarily covering college football and college basketball games. He was at ESPN from 1987 through 2011.

Before he started at ESPN, Franklin served as the play-by-play voice for the NFL’s Houston Oilers and later the Texas Longhorns. His career in broadcasting also led him to cover events such as the French Open and U.S. Olympic Festival.

Franklin also was a sports director at four different television stations during his career in broadcasting. He was a graduate of the University of Mississippi.