From the Mound to the Mic: How Roger Higgins Became the Voice of the Marauders

Here’s a blog-ready feature on Roger Higgins.

For Roger Higgins, sports haven’t just been a pastime—they’ve been a lifelong vocation. From professional baseball diamonds to broadcast booths and finally to the press box at the University of Mary, Roger’s story is woven deeply into the fabric of North Dakota sports.

Today, many know him simply as the “Voice of the Marauders.” But long before he called his first UMary game, he was toeing the rubber as a professional pitcher.

A Life in Baseball

Fresh out of high school, Higgins chased a dream that few ever reach:

• He signed with the Boston Red Sox organization.
• Began his pro career pitching for a minor league club in Roanoke, Virginia.

His early career was interrupted by World War II, when he served two years in the U.S. Army. After his military service, he returned to the game he loved:

• Spent nine more years in organized baseball, spanning multiple teams and roles.
• Finished his professional career in 1957 in Las Vegas, Nevada, serving as:
  • Pitcher
  • Pitching coach
  • Assistant manager

In total, Higgins logged 11 years as a professional baseball player, a journey that eventually brought him to Bismarck as a pitcher for the Bismarck Barons.

It turned out that his arm wasn’t the only talent that would shape his future.

Finding His Voice in Broadcasting

While still navigating life as a player, Higgins took his first steps into a second career—sports broadcasting.

• In 1956, between baseball seasons, he accepted a sales job at KBOM radio in Bismarck.
• During the fall and winter, he began helping KBOM’s sports director with play-by-play announcing.

The combination was perfect: a former pro athlete with a knack for storytelling and an understanding of the game from the inside out.

In 1957, Higgins moved from radio to the new frontier of local television:

• Joined KXMB Channel 12 as sports director.

By 1959, he transitioned to Meyer Broadcasting Company and KFYR Television, where his influence continued to grow:

• By 1961, he had become the station’s play-by-play broadcaster.
• In 1964, he was named sports director for both television and radio.

From then until 1978, Higgins was a constant presence across TV and radio sports, eventually focusing solely on television until his first retirement in 1989.

The Voice of the Marauders

Retirement didn’t keep Roger away from the action for long.

Since 1989, he has served as the “Voice of the Marauders” for KLXX radio in Bismarck, bringing University of Mary athletics into homes, cars, and communities across the region.

By the October 4, 1997 UMary football game, Roger had:

• Called his 325th Marauder broadcast since his “semi-retirement.”

And if you trace his work all the way back to the early coaching eras of Fritz Fell and Al Bortke at UMary, Higgins estimates:

• The total number of Marauder games he’s called would be pushing 400.

Think about that for a moment: hundreds of games, thousands of plays, and countless names and moments passed through his microphone—each one helping to build the story of Marauder athletics.

More Than a Broadcaster

What makes Roger Higgins special isn’t just his longevity or his resume. It’s the way he’s connected players, fans, and the wider community to the heart of University of Mary sports.

• As a former professional athlete, he understands the pressures and joys of competition.
• As a broadcaster, he’s translated that experience into vivid, accessible storytelling.
• As a friend of the program, he’s helped generations of fans fall in love with Marauder athletics.

From the minor leagues of Roanoke and Las Vegas to the airwaves of Bismarck, Roger’s life in sports has been defined by two constants: excellence and passion.

For Marauder fans and alumni, his voice isn’t just background sound—it’s the soundtrack to some of the most memorable moments in UMary history.