A native of Toledo, Ohio, Nelson Volz has been active in the local sports community since his arrival in Muskegon in 1937. Best known as the public address announcer for Muskegon Big Reds, Volz has served the area in a variety of ways.  A baseball, basketball and football official for 30 years, he was recognized by the Michigan High School Athletic Association for his years of service.

Volz received his start in announcing in 1939, as a color man for a local radio station.  In 1941, he began a 38-year stint as P.A. announcer for the Big Reds gridiron program.  In between, Volz handled the same duties for the Muskegon Lassies of the old All-American Girls Baseball League.  The team played their home games at Marsh Field from 1946-1950.  In later years, he worked the microphone for Muskegon High School boys and girls basketball games, and a number of prep contests at the L.C. Walker Arena.  In 1986, he was selected by the Michigan High School Coaches Association to handle the P.A. duties at the East-West All-Star game, played at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

A graduate of Western Michigan University, Volz taught mathematics in the Muskegon Public Schools for 38 years before his retirement in 1979.  Since that time, he has been an active member of the community, assisting the elderly with their taxes and serving on the Muskegon Elks scholarship committee.  An avid bowler and horseshoe pitcher, Volz has also worked on the design and promotion of the Moose horseshoe court.