Lubbock County Judge to step down as announcer at Texas Tech football games after 24 years
The voice of Jones AT&T Stadium — Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish — is stepping down from his position after 24 years.
The announcement came from Texas Tech Athletics Friday evening, on the eve of the Tech's season opener against Abilene Christian University in Lubbock, set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the stadium.
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“After almost 25 years as the Jones AT&T Stadium announcer, it is time to step away from the microphone to focus on my commitment to my growing family and my service as the Lubbock County Judge,” Parrish said in a statement. “It has been my honor to be a part of Texas Tech Football for the last quarter of a century, and I look forward to cheering on Coach McGuire and our Red Raiders now and in the future.”
In a 2022 interview with the A-J, Parrish reflected on the memorable events that he has witnessed throughout his time, including iconic quarterback play by Kliff Kinsgberry and Patrick Mahomes, among others.
But Parrish also left his mark on the Jones. The famous, “For a Red Raider - first down” cheer started with Parrish after seeing his friend wave his Guns Up after every first down.
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“I would go along with him and then all the people around him started doing it and it spilled over to the student section,” Parrish previously told the A-J. “Before we knew it, within that season — which was about 2001, 2002, I believe — all of a sudden, the entire stadium was doing it.”
The call has since moved to other college football stadiums.
During his tenure, Parrish has also gotten to be the public announcer at the John Walker Soccer Complex, among other roles at athletic events.
In a statement, TTU Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt thanked Parrish for his many years of service.
"He has been behind the mic for many of our most-memorable moments in our history, and we are forever grateful for the impact he has made on the gameday atmosphere inside Jones AT&T Stadium during his tenure as our stadium voice," Hocutt said in a statement.
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TTU Athletics will debut a new voice of the Jones during Saturday's season opener.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock County Judge Parrish ends run as Texas Tech football announcer
