Jim Albracht, a long-time favourite sports broadcaster, died unexpectedly at the age of 75 in December 2025.
He left his wife, Meredith, and a community mourning his passing. The voice of Albracht was well-known to several generations of sports fans in the Quad Cities, Kansas City, and even further, as he reported for decades on local and collegiate athletics.
Both had resided in Kansas City for the past few years, yet his influence was still most potent in the Quad Cities, the place where he initially scored his triumphs.
A Storied Career in Sports Media
Jim Albracht’s broadcasting career went through radio and television and lasted for a long time before he became a local star in the Quad Cities.
He worked as a sportscaster for WQAD, where he got to talk with legends like the Chicago Bears’ great Walter Payton, and then had a very popular radio show on WOC.
The public soon identified with his voice when it came to local sports, which was the result of his being part of the Iowa Hawkeye Radio Network for years and his doing play-by-play for the Quad City Steamwheelers.
His co-workers and audience were always there to thank him for his eagerness, insight, and commitment to narrate every single match.
Albracht’s professional life also included positions at KFMH and other means of broadcasting that demonstrated his vast knowledge and love for sports. He treated his audience with warmth and laughter that eventually turned him into a media personality and a trusted figure in the media world for a long time.
Meredith Albracht and Family/Friends Poured Condolences After His Loss
Even though Jim Albracht managed to keep most of his personal affairs under wraps, his partnership with Meredith for many years was known to his peers and to the town.
In the week after the death of her husband, Meredith expressed her thankfulness for the supportive deluge coming from listeners, friends, and regional fellow broadcasters.
Meredith also stated Jim’s dedication to his profession was matched only by his people devotion, and he always managed to find time for his near ones, despite the burdens of his career.
The friends remember that the couple had over twenty years of shared life, starting when Jim was new in his career path, and they put down roots in the community through their involvement and storytelling, sharing the lights of their love of storytelling.
Meredith’s support was a major factor in helping Jim endure both the peaks and the valleys of his long media career.
He was remembered for his warmth and humanity. Apart from his professional achievements, Albracht was still remembered for the way he dealt with people. The everyday communication with him left a strong impression, according to Heidi Hook.
“Jim was a bright light in every room,” Hook wrote. “He was a master of conversation, and he always made one feel special.”
That sentiment was voiced in other people’s recollections of Albracht being approachable and kind while quickly bonding with those around him.
