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By Bo Tefu, Joe W. Bowers Jr., and Lila Brown | California Black Media
Last week, lawmakers in both houses of the legislature honored San Francisco Giants public address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon for her trailblazing media career and advocacy work statewide.
By all accounts a Bay Area legend, the multi-award-winning radio personality served as the Giants public address announcer for 24 seasons. The Baseball Hall of Fame acknowledged Brooks-Moon as the first woman to serve as a Public Address Announcer for a world championship game in any professional sport.
On June 11, Oakland-born Brooks-Moon was recognized on the California Assembly Floor as “Woman of the Year” by State Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco).
The same day, Brooks-Moon was also presented with a resolution on the Senate Floor by Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and other Bay Area lawmakers.
“On the Assembly Floor, we honored Renel Brooks-Moon. Her career started in radio, but she is best known for her role as San Francisco Giants announcer,” Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) wrote on Facebook. “She is the first Black Californian to have that position and she did it with gusto!”
Brooks-Moon dedicated her awards to her late parents, whom she acknowledged as her role models and inspiration.
“I am profoundly honored and humbled to receive this recognition,” she said. “My heart is filled with gratitude and appreciation.”
McGuire said Brooks-Moon had been a fixture at Oracle Park and announced over 2,000 games including three World Series Championships.
“She brought incredible excitement and emotion to the game of baseball,” McGuire stated. “For those of us listening, she brought the game to life. But her storied career and community impact extend beyond the ballpark.”
Brooks-Moon spent 34 years as a radio and television broadcaster, including lead roles at 106 KMEL, 98.1 KISS-FM and CBS-5.
On air, Brooks-Moon led a number of efforts that empowered and uplifted the community. During that time, she received various awards for her advocacy and media work, including honors from the Bay Area Black Journalists Association, American Women in Radio and Television, Girl Scouts of NorCal, and Girls, Inc.
