OU Football Mourns the Loss of Longtime Broadcaster Ray Klapmeyer, Survived by His Wife, Debra, and Three Children!

February 17, 2026

This article was last updated by Pranaya Poudel on February 17, 2026

Ray Klapmeyer, a beloved radio voice for OU football, passed away on February 13, 2026, at the age of 70.

Born on June 7, 1954, in Kansas City, Missouri, to parents Homer and Fern Klapmeyer, Ray Klapmeyer lived his life to the fullest.

He is survived by his wife of 8 years, , two sons, Chris Klapmeyer and , and stepdaughter, .

and Debra tied the knot on July 2, 2016.

A graduate of Southwest High School, Debra studied Health Information Technology (CSS) at the American Medical Record Association.

Likewise, Klapmeyer also left behind his grandsons, Jacon and Chase Klapmeyer, and step-grandson Seth Fredrickson.

A family man, Klapmeyer cherished spending quality time with his family, especially his grandsons. Some of his happiest memories were of feeding goats with them.

In his later years, Klapmeyer became a cat person and became a self-proclaimed “cat daddy” to his four cats, Sam, Ginger, Darcy, and Penny.

OU Football Radio Crew took to their social media to break the exclusive news of his tragic passing, writing,

It’s with deep sadness to share the news on the passing of our Broadcast Ops at @Learfield, Ray Klapmeyer.

We send our heartfelt condolences to his family during this time.

“Ray was a huge Sooner fan! He was with OU Radio for several years and we always loved working with him,” read the post.

Klapmeyer’s life will be celebrated with a visitation on February 18 and a Liturgy Outside of Mass on February 19, 2026, followed by a burial at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri.

Ray Klapmeyer Explored Several Career Paths Before His True Passion for Broadcasting!

Ray Klapmeyer, the radio voice for the OU football Radio Crew, Had notable early years, including becoming an Eagle Scout and serving as an ROTC commander during high school.

Klapmeyer achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 115 of the Kansas City Boy Scouts of America.

Additionally, he was part of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say at Camp Frontier, located at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. During his senior year in high school, Klapmeyer held the position of commander in the ROTC program.

Klapmeyer’s commitment to service extended into his young adulthood as he enlisted in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era. During his time there, he earned several commendations, including the rank of E5.

After serving for five and a half years, he received an honorable discharge and several commendations, including the Good Conduct Medal, an Expert Marksman M16 designation, and the National Defense Service Medal.

After his military service, Klapmeyer embarked on a diverse career path. Some of these included as a disc jockey and newsman at WHB Radio in Kansas City, Missouri, and KADI Radio in Abilene, Kansas, and briefly worked in Borger, Texas.

Klapmeyer later transitioned into a police officer and worked for nine years in Abilene, Kansas.

In 1989, his contributions to community safety in Abilene, Kansas, earned him the Wheat State Crime Prevention Award.

Likewise, Klapmeyer’s career saw him hold several positions, including funeral director at Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee, Kansas, and accounts receivable manager for GE Aerospace in Kansas City and Jacksonville, Florida, before he found his true calling in broadcasting.

In 2026, Ray joined Learfield Communications as a board operator, producing college sporting events.

Not to forget, this role brought him immense joy as he often reflected on it as “the best job” he ever had.

Likewise, Klapmeyer served as District Cabinet Secretary of the Merriam-Shawmee Noon Lions Club and the Shawnee, Kansas, Optimist Club president.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Ray Klapmeyer was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Fern Klapmeyer, and his uncle William “Kenny” Klapmeyer.
• He graduated from Southwest High School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1972.
• Klapmeyer avidly supported his favorite sports teams, including the Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, and the Oklahoma University Sooners.

• Check other Articles on

Aditi is an avid music lover whose interest's goes beyond the realm of music, with passion in digital marketing. A Gen Z who loves her personal space and is keen to exploring new things. An optimist who seeks silver lining in every circumstances life throws at her.

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