Table of Biography
Early Life
Billy Packer was born in Wellsville, New York, the United States, on February 25, 1940. At the age of 82 years old, he passed away and had a birth sign of Pisces. In addition, he holds US nationality and belongs to the South American ethnicity. His birth name is Anthony William Packer and he had his belief in Christianity religion.
He was born to his father Tony Packer while his mother’s name is unknown. In addition, his father was an outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and baseball at St. Lawrence University and was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 1982.
College Career
In terms of his academic qualifications, he graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After this, he enrolled at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from 1958 to 1962.
During his college years, he played guard on the school’s basketball team for his last three years of college. He led Wake Forest to two Atlantic Coast Conference championships and the 1962 NCAA championship game. Moreover, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity’s Delta Nu chapter.
Billy Packer – Death
At the age of 82 years old, he died of kidney failure on January 26, 2023.
Professional Career
After completing his graduation, Billy Packer had a brief stint as an assistant coach for his alma mater. He began his broadcasting career in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1972, when he was asked to step in as colour analyst for a locally televised ACC game. The next season, he was promoted to regular.
At first, he worked at the network level with NBC (1974–1981) and then CBS (1981–2008). From 1975 to 2008, he covered every NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship, including the Final Four. Similarly, he also covered ACC games for Raycom Sports for several years. He also helped create the computer game “Hoops” in the year 1986.
Caption: CBS announcers Billy Packer, and Jim Nantz laugh during a break in the championship game in the Big Ten basketball tournament in Indianapolis (Source: WUNC)
On July 15, 2008, CBS announced that Packer would be replaced on the network’s primary broadcast crew by Clark Kellogg. This marked the end of Packer’s 35-year run as a TV commentator for the NCAA tournament. In March 2009, he returned to the studio with Bob Knight for Survive and Advance, a Fox Sports Net NCAA tournament preview show.
He also contributed colour commentary to Putt-Putt Professional Putters Association television programs. Moreover, he called the 1982 PPA National Championship, which included four future Hall of Fame players among the eight contestants.
Net Worth 2024
At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated at around $20 million while his salary and income are yet unknown. He has earned this huge sum of money through his work for over three decades as a colour analyst for television coverage of college basketball.
Relationship Status
Billy Packer married his wife Barbara. With the marriage, the couple has two kids; Brandt Packer and Mark Packer.
Both of his children are involved in sports media; Brandt works as a producer for Golf Channel and Mark is a sports radio host based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Billy was listed in the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame in the year 1988.
Caption: Billy Packer’s family photo (Source: Barrett Sports Media)
During his career, he was involved in several controversies. He became involved in high-profile legal issues, such as employing a psychic to identify the murder weapon in the O.J Simpson case and establishing a legal defense fund for alleged 1996 Olympic bomber Richard Jewell. He once turned his attention to politics by approaching 123 random ladies and asking them if they would vote for Hillary Clinton without identifying himself.
Body Measurements
Caption: Billy Packer with Jim Nantz in 2001 (Source: New York Post)
The late sportscaster had grey hair colour while he had a pair of green eyes. Other than this, there is no exact information available regarding his height, weight, and other body measurement.
Billy Packer – Social Media
The late American sportscaster is no longer alive and is not active on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.