Stan “Sparling” Solberg

Bell Memorial - Inducted 1989

Stan “Sparling” Solberg started his broadcast career in high school promoting high school baseball. With an official start at a radio station in Dawson Creek in 1950, he also covered sports in Calgary and Central Alberta. His colour broadcasts for baseball, hockey, football, boxing, wrestling, and rodeo always had him on the 'broadcast trail'. In 1951, Stan moved to Calgary where he broadcast simulated baseball for the Stampeders of the Western League. With the station lacking funds for trips, he arranged for a telegrapher at the ballparks in Spokane, Pasco, or Boise to send terse descriptions of the plays, where he would then - with sound effects and much imagination - provide Calgary fans with their baseball coverage. Later, he would simulate curling in the same manner.

In 1953, Stan moved to Red Deer and became involved with the Central Alberta Hockey and Baseball Leagues. He was a faithful promoter and broadcaster of the Lacombe Lions Baseball Tournament. In 1959, Stan helped open the Drumheller Radio Station and assisted other sportsmen in getting the Drumheller Miners into the Big Six League.