Keith Jackson (born October 18, 1928) is an American former sportscaster, known for his long career with ABC Sports (1966–2006), his coverage of college football (1952–2006), his style of folksy, down-to-earth commentary, and his distinctive voice, with its deep cadence, and operatic tone considered "like Edward R. Murrow reporting on World War II, the voice of ultimate authority in college football." Keith Jackson was born on October 18, 1928 and grew up on a farm outside Carrollton, Georgia, near the Georgia-Alabama state line. The only surviving child in a poor family, he grew up listening to sports on the radio. After enlisting and serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he attended Washington State University under the G.I. Bill. Jackson began as a political science major, but he became interested in broadcasting. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in Speech Communications. Though best known for his college football broadcasts, Jackson announced numerous other sports for ABC throughout his career, including Major League Baseball, NBA basketball, boxing, auto racing, PGA Tour golf, the USFL, and the Olympic Games. He briefly worked college basketball with Dick Vitale.