Longtime Cleveland broadcaster Casey Coleman dead at 55

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Casey Coleman, who did play-by-play for the Cleveland Browns and covered the city's other sports teams for nearly 30 years, died Monday. He was 55.

Coleman died at his home of pancreatic cancer. Bill Wills, who co-hosted WTAM's "Wills and Coleman in the Morning" show, announced Coleman's death on the air. Coleman's wife, Mary, had called the station to tell his colleagues about his death.

Coleman was diagnosed with cancer more than a year ago, and continued to work until the last few months.

Coleman's voice was known to a generation of Clevelanders. Coleman also worked at WJW-TV, where he won four Emmy Awards as the station's sports anchor. He also won several Associated Press broadcasting awards for excellence.

Last month, the Browns renamed their indoor practice facility in Berea "The Casey Coleman Field House." Coleman worked as the club's radio network sideline reporter during games the past few years.

He followed his father into broadcasting. Ken Coleman was the longtime radio voice of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Browns, and Casey worked as a water boy during summer training camp for the NFL team.

Coleman began his broadcasting career in the Boston area before coming to Cleveland in 1978. He hosted a radio show for the Cleveland Indians, ending each broadcast by saying, "I'm rounding third and heading home."

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.