If you’ve ever tuned in to the Super Bowl, Masters, or NCAA Final Four, odds are you’ve heard 2-time Sports Emmy Award winner Jim Nantz’s smooth-as-butter voice delivering play-by-play with the elegance of a seasoned pro.

But behind every “Hello, friends,” lies a story much bigger than sports. But, who are the unsung heroes who helped shape the legendary CBS announcer we know today.

Who is Jim Nantz’s mom?

Picture this: a mom who’s got your back at every game, pep talk, or moment when life gives you a rough tackle. That’s Doris Nantz in a nutshell. Doris wasn’t just Jim’s mom; she was the family’s glue, the kind of person whose spirit could rival a locker room after a big win. Whether it was cheering from the stands or the couch, Doris helmed support and love.

Her grit was put to the test when her husband, Jim Nantz II, was sadly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Doris, alongside her daughter Nancy, took up on the role of caregiver with unmatched strength and sheer grace. While the disease took its toll, she never let it dim her light.

“She could light up any room,” friends and family often say about Doris—sound familiar? Yep, that’s where Jim Nantz gets it. In one of the most heartwarming tributes, Jim surprised his mom by naming the press box at Houston’s TDECU Stadium after her. The Doris Nantz Press Box isn’t just a name; it’s a monument to the woman who shaped the man behind the mic.

Who is Jim 3’s dad?

Jim Nantz II was the OG. His animated personality and athletic frame, along with his ability to tell humorous stories, made him the heartbeat of the Nantz family.

In 1995, at a golf tournament in Fort Worth, Jim Nantz II suffered a mini-stroke—the opening chapter of a battle with Alzheimer’s that would stretch 13 years. The disease stole the man who once dominated rooms with his laughter and charisma, leaving his family to grapple with an unimaginable reality.

“My father is truly always by my side,” Jim Nantz shared, reflecting on his dad’s influence. “This campaign that I’m proud to be one of the spokesmen for—I feel my father’s presence as a spokesman for this.”

Nantz II passed away in 2008, but his legacy still lives on. Jim co-founded the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, a mission-driven organization fighting back against the disease that hampered his family’s world. It’s not just a center; it’s a living tribute to the man who truly inspired it.

Where did Nantz grow up?

Before the bright lights and packed stadiums, Jim Nantz was just a kid growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana. It wasn’t just home; it was the place where Jim and his dad bonded over sports, dreams, and plans for the future. The duo had a vision of running the family office furniture business together. But destiny had other ideas—ones that would put Jim on the path to sports broadcasting greatness. He was also member of the Bamm Hollow Country Club.

It was in Houston that Jim Nantz honed his work ethic and love for sports, eventually playing golf at the University of Houston, for the Cougars men’s golf team, And years later, it’s the city where he’d give back, establishing the Alzheimer Center that bears his name. Houston isn’t just where Jim grew up; it’s where his parents’ lessons and love took root, shaping the man millions now know and admire.

His parents’ love and resilience continue to echo through his charity, and those iconic words he utters every broadcast with: “Hello, friends.” It’s more than a greeting—it’s a tribute to the ones who showed him that life’s greatest victories don’t always come with a trophy. So I guess it was The Calling (His wine company) for him.

So, next time you hear Jim Nantz call a game-winning drive or narrate a nail-biting putt at the Masters, remember: there’s a lot of Doris and Jim Nantz II in every word. And just like a perfectly executed two-minute drill, their story will leave you speechless. And as Jim himself might say, “That’s a tradition unlike any other.”