In 2008, I met one of my heroes, Gary Owens, at Jerry's Diner in Encino.

It was a long interview and covered his life and career, and the power of the announcer.

After it aired, I'd call on Gary for a favor now and then, and he always called back, and whether he was leaving a message or speaking to me in person, he'd always say, "Hi, John. It's Gary Owens."

Yes, Gary, I knew it was you. How could that remarkable voice be anybody else?

I'm terribly sad that phone call will never come again. Gary died Thursday; he was 80.

Here's the whole interview, from the Off-Ramp archive.