After years of saying "hello," Husky fans must now say "good bye."

A long tradition of greeting the stadium attendees with "Hello Dawg fans," comes to an end as Husky sportscaster Lou Gellermann finally said goodbye to a career that lasted 40 years.

Gellerman, the longtime voice of Husky football, retired at the end of last weekend's USC game.

The public announcer, who greeted the audience over the PA each game with his trademark phrase, has been the man behind the microphone for more than 20 years.

"Lou Gellermann is, and has been for many, many years, a UW institution," said Todd Turner, director of UW athletics. "His signature 'Hello Dawg fans' was a recognizable trademark, and he will very much be missed."

Gellermann coined the phrase with the UW's marketing director as a way to promote fan involvement. Fans began to respond with a resounding "Hello Lou" to each of his greetings, and the tradition stuck.

"Being a part of Washington athletics for such a long time has meant so much to me," Gellermann said in a statement. "I've come across so many great people and have so many wonderful memories. The fact is that my hearing just isn't as good as it once was, and I don't feel that I can continue doing the job to the quality that Husky fans deserve. I just love Husky athletics and it will be very, very difficult to say goodbye."

Gellermann graduated from the UW in 1958, after being inducted in the Husky Hall of Fame as part of men's rowing. His legendary crew team rowed the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in England and then won the 1958 Moscow Cup. After his undergraduate career, Gellermann went on to coach men's rowing at the U.S. Naval Academy, and then returned to the UW in 1968 as the men's freshman rowing coach, under Dick Erickson.

He began serving as the internal public address announcer, relaying game statistics and other information, before replacing Wendell Broyles as public announcer for men's basketball and football in 1985.

Interim announcer Eric Radovich will take over Gellermann's public announcer duties for the rest of the season.

Radovich serves as the public announcer for men's basketball and the Seattle Mariners. The search for Gellermann's permanent replacement will be ongoing throughout the rest of the year.

[Reach reporter Arla Shephard at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]