On the afternoon of October 26th, 2024, it was publicly announced to the Cleveland Browns and their fans that the longtime radio voice of the Cleveland Browns Jim Donovan lost his longtime battle against cancer. He was 68 years old, and he is survived by daughter Meghan and wife Cheryl. For 25 years Cleveland Browns fans would tune into the radio broadcast of Browns games while watching the game on television with the volume turned down all the way. Donovan’s passion for the Cleveland Browns could be felt in his voice during his game broadcasts, and that is why Browns fans loved him so much.  Because of that love, Jimmy Donovan was inducted by the Cleveland Browns last month into their Legends Club.

On September 22nd, 2024, the Cleveland Browns inducted Donovan to the Cleveland Browns Legends. Due to his health at that time, he was represented by his daughter Meghan to accept his jacket. The ceremony was done prior to the week 3 home game against the New York Giants.  Donovan announced his retirement from the broadcast booth just prior to the 2024 season. He was succeeded by Andrew Siciliano.

I had the honor and the pleasure of working with Jim Donovan at WKYC Channel 3 in Cleveland. He was one the nicest people I have ever met in the Cleveland Sports Media. He was kind enough to record the voicemail greeting on my cell phone in 2003. Later I became friends with his daughter. There was class and excellence when Jim Donovan did a broadcast of a Browns game. He was one the best at what he did. Once I heard the news about his passing, I could hear in my head Donovan’s famous radio call of a 2002 William Green touchdown run to clinch the Browns a playoff spot of “run William run”. I believe that Browns fans all over the world and in Northeast Ohio will always hear in their heart Jim Donovan’s voice saying into the microphone “run William run”.  Indeed, Jim Donovan and rest in peace, you were loved and will be missed, “run William run”.