Brad Palmer covered sports in Chicago from 1966-2006. He is sometimes referred to as "The Professor", a term that evolved from his weekly analysis of upcoming Bears games.
He was voted the "Illinois Sportscaster of the Year" a record 9 times by his contemporaries. The balloting is conducted by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina, site of the annual awards ceremonies.
Brad retired in 2006 after 21 years with WLS-TV (Channel 7). Prior to that, he was the Sports Director of WBBM Newsradio 78 and the color commentator on the Chicago Bears radio broadcasts. For 10 straight years, Brad won AP and/or UPI awards for "Best Radio Sports Reporting in Illinois."
Brad did television play-by-play for the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Cougars (WHA), and University of Illinois football, and radio play-by-play for University of Illinois basketball.
He grew up on the north side of Chicago, graduating from Maine East H.S. (Park Ridge) and the University of Illinois. He served as an officer in the Navy and upon his discharge, began a broadcast career in news, with brief stints in Mason City, Iowa and Rockford, Illinois.
He joined WGN-TV as a news writer-producer in 1966. In 1968, he moved to WBBM Newsradio 78, and shortly thereafter, began covering sports on a full-time basis.
Upon Brad's retirement in 2006, Ed Sherman wrote in the Tribune, "Few sportscasters in town ever commanded more respect. He always asked the tough questions and brought a no nonsense approach to the air. In this era of irreverence, Palmer was wonderfully old school."
Brad lives in Hinsdale with his wife Patti. They have two grown children: Kathryn and Brooks.