SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The legendary voice of the Missouri State University Bears, Art Hains, has announced his retirement.

A press release from the university says in his 44th season as MSU's primary announcer, Hains plans to work home games for football, men's basketball and baseball during the 2024-25 season before closing out his career on Sept. 13, 2025 when the Bears host SMU.

Hains, a 1977 graduate of SMU, says ending his career for Missouri State's first-ever home game as an FBS program is an opportunity he wouldn't miss for the world, the release states.

"My first college broadcast was of an SMU basketball game in 1976," Hains said in a statement. "So my last will be an encore game when SMU comes here next year to play the school I have loved since 1977."

After graduating from SMU, Hains came to Springfield to work as the sports director for local radio station KGBX. He also took over the assignment of radio broadcasts for MSU football and men's basketball that same year, adding baseball later down the line.

Hains left Springfield in 1981 for a job with a station in Dallas, Texas, but returned to Missouri State in 1985, where he has been the school's sports voice ever since, announcing over 3,000 Bears events.

Since 2022, Hains has been battling the effects of West Nile virus, which has caused him paralysis, respiratory challenges and at times long odds for survival. He returned in August 2023 as the pre- and post-game host for the Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network and announced four home football broadcasts last fall in his return to MSU.

However, Hains said he acknowledges the toll the virus has taken on him the last two years.

"As Ricky Ricardo once famously said 'The time has come.'," he said in a statement. "And so it is for my time as Voice of the Bears, a title I have cherished for the last 44 years. Unfortunately, due to my physical limitations, it's become more difficult to prepare for and describe the games the way I once did. The time comes for everyone, and this being our last year in the MVC, I'll just go out with The Valley."

Hains said he plans to continue attending campus events and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

News Source : https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/art-hains-voice-of-the-bears-announces-retirement/