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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Legendary sports broadcaster Odis “Oats” LeGrand passed away in Valley City on Tuesday at the age of 95.

Sports Illustrated recognized him as the “Voice of Small Town America” in 1985.  Oats broadcast more than 4,400 games in West Central Minnesota from 1952 to 1998, sometimes outside on top of a vehicle.

Oats also was a teacher and a successful coach in a number of sports in Fergus Falls and other surrounding communities in western Minnesota. He was inducted into the North Dakota School of Forestry Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Minnesota Football and Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and Minnesota Athletic Directors Hall of Fame.

LeGrand played minor league baseball and served in the Army Air Corps in the Philippines and England during World War II. Funeral services for LeGrand will be Saturday at the “First Church of the Nazarene” in Valley City at 11am.  Visitation will be Friday 4p to 7p at the Lerud Schuldt Funeral home with a prayer service at 7pm Friday night.