J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication Award Recipients
Communicator of the Year Award
Len Kasper, Comm '93
Glenco, Ill.
For the past 12 years, Len has delivered the action of Chicago Cubs baseball from Wrigley Field to the homes of fans around the world, saying his ability to adapt to the dynamic media environment allowed him to achieve his lifelong goal.
“I am very fortunate that I was able to choose and execute a career path that I had dreamed about as a young teenager,” he says. “My singular goal was to be a big-league announcer, and I’m proud of the fact that I was able to achieve that.”
The play-by-play announcer credits Bill Baxter, a Marquette public relations professor, for encouraging him to get an internship with the Milwaukee Bucks, which began Len’s sports career. He began calling select Milwaukee Brewers games from 1999–2001 before taking over the daily broadcast duties for the Florida Marlins between 2002–04. Len has also hosted pregame and halftime radio shows for the Green Bay Packers, co-hosted a Brewers radio show, and worked for Milwaukee’s WTMJ Radio for nearly eight years.
Len is proud of being a husband and father with the opportunity to raise his son in the Midwest. A Shepherd, Mich., native, he is active in the community with his interest in music. He helped raise thousands of dollars for Hot Stove Cool Music events in Chicago and Boston. In 2011, he received the Harry Caray Sportscaster of the Year Award from the Pitch and Hit Club, a nonprofit that recognizes the achievements of members of the baseball community.
