SEATTLE -- Former Washington rower and public address announcer Lou Gellermann has died. He was 79.

Washington announced Gellermann's death on Sunday. The school said Gellermann died Friday.

Gellermann was part of the Washington varsity eight rowing team that beat the Leningrad Trud Club in Moscow in 1958. It was the first sporting event broadcast back to the United States from the Soviet Union. Gellermann also was an alternate for the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

After his rowing career ended, Gellermann worked for Washington and became the public address announcer at Husky Stadium in 1986, his baritone voice greeting the crowd with "Hello, Dawg fans," at the start of every game. He retired from that position in 2007.