Legendary skater and announcer Dick Button’s death Thursday at age 95 has brought an outpouring of tributes, and NBC released a touching video Friday that defined the iconic figure.
Button became the first superstar in American figure skating, winning the first U.S. gold medal in the sport in the 1948 Winter Olympics and repeating the feat in 1952. He also won five world championships. Yet he’s best remembered for his lengthy career as a figure skating television analyst, from 1960 through 2010.
Terry Gannon, who worked for many years with Button, narrated the tribute video, which showed clips of Button as a skater, as well as highlights from his TV work. Gannon spoke eloquently of Button’s unique style.
“At the mic, he was engaging and acerbic, passionate and unforgiving,” Gannon said. “If it was bad, Dick would say it was bad, with a unique ability to make us laugh, think, cringe, cry and raise our eyebrows, all with one comment. His commentary transcended the sport and attracted new fans.
“He was simply a one-of-a-kind character who saw the world differently than the rest of us. And for that, I am forever grateful for my time spent with him. He leaves a legacy that is woven into the fabric of figure skating, and our thoughts are with the entire Button family.
“He was simply a one-of-a-kind character.”
Terry Gannon narrates the story of American figure skating icon and transcendent sports figure Dick Button. pic.twitter.com/ZLkgJy9T8D
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 31, 2025
The figure skating community has been in mourning this week. Button’s death came one day after the tragic plane crash Wednesday night that claimed the lives of many youth skating stars, coaches and family members. Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch reported that six of those skaters were members of the Skating Club of Boston, where Button once trained.
The tribute video was a nice touch by Gannon and NBC. Button called his final Olympics for NBC in 2010, but he also worked Olympics for CBS and ABC and covered skating for ESPN as well.
