WSAW-TV broadcasting legend and WBA Hall of Fame inductee Mark Zelich, affectionately known by many as “Z,” has died at the age of 95.
Zelich’s trademark “Courage” sign-off carried him through nearly 20 years as WSAU-TV’s sports anchor, which was the major part of his 43-year broadcast career.
He began his career in 1951 with disc jockey and short announcing stints at WDBC-AM in Escanaba, Michigan and WATW-AM in Ashland. He moved to the Wausau/Merrill area in 1955 to be a sports reporter and play-by-play announcer for WOSA-AM/WLIN-FM.
He moved to WSAU-TV/AM/FM in 1957 as a sports anchor and became the television station’s news and sports director in 1965. While doing local high school play-by-play, he served as the voice of Badger Football on Wisconsin Radio Network from 1959-1970.
Zelich left his position as sports anchor in 1977 and remained at the renamed WSAW-TV as Vice President of News and Sports until his retirement in 1994.
He was inducted into the WBA Hall of Fame in 1998.
He died Thursday. Service information is not yet available.
