Barry Sykes

JAMES BARRY SYKES was welcomed into the eternal presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, January 28, 2022, at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa TX. The family appreciates the medical staff, especially the Critical Care Unit who worked tirelessly on Barry’s behalf during those last few days of his life on this earth. He is now “absent from the body . . . present with the Lord.”

Barry was born in Big Spring TX to Abbott B. and Melba Preston Sykes on July 14, 1954. The family moved from Big Spring to Odessa in July 1959, and Barry remained in Odessa for the rest of his life.

After graduating from Permian High School in 1972, Barry attended Odessa College then began a media career that included radio stations in and around Odessa as well as KMID-TV. In 1973, he began doing play-by-play for tape-delayed, locally televised football games in the UIL district that included Permian. He continued doing these broadcasts through the 2021 season and only missed one game during this entire career. Several years ago, Barry received the “Mojo Mystique” notebook (1959) from the football coach after it was discovered in a closet at Permian. With the help of his football broadcasting buddy, Clay Kennedy, Barry began updating the missing years in the notebook and kept it current through the end of the 2020 football season. In 2004, Barry was the voice of the play-by-play football announcer in the acclaimed sports movie, “Friday Night Lights.”

In the early1990s Barry worked part-time with his father who founded Hap Sykes Advertising. Barry’s work there expanded and from 2002-2004, he assumed even more responsibilities in his dad’s specialty advertising company. He became sole owner in 2004 until he closed the business in 2018.

In 2016 Barry became “the voice of the Falcons” for the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) football team. One notable play-by-play for the Falcons was a featured segment in several national news outlets, but locally he was most notably “the voice” during their football seasons.

Barry’s rich, tenor voice was more than just great for announcing football games. Years ago he was a member of the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale and “The Brand New Opree” at the Globe Theatre of the Great Southwest at Odessa College. Barry was often a requested soloist for weddings and funerals in the West Texas area. He also joined with some friends to sing at nursing homes. For several years, he was worship leader at Grace Christian Fellowship at the church’s previous location. Years later, as a soloist, he sang “O Holy Night” for the Christmas Eve services at Mid-Cities Community Church in Midland TX where he was a member.

Barry is predeceased by his father and mother; his brother, Stephen Sykes; his maternal and paternal grandparents and many extended family members. He is survived by his older sister, Judy Dalton (John) of Cloudcroft NM; his youngest brother, Nathan Sykes of Providence RI; his nieces, Stephanie Miller (Ken) and their son, Rowan Hines of Fort Worth TX; and Jessica Wiggins (Calvin) and their son, Calvin Jr of Roanoke TX; his nephew, Michael Dalton (Nikki) and their children, Zane, Eisley and Ella of Woodland Park CO; his aunts, Kay Preston of Abilene TX and Margie Weller of Denver CO; and several cousins and their families throughout the U.S. Many friends will also cherish his memory.

The memorial service for Barry Sykes will be at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at Grace Christian Fellowship in Odessa. Sunset Funeral Home and Cemetery is managing arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Barry’s memory to these scholarship programs:

Barry Sykes Memorial Scholarship Award
Permian Football Booster Club, Barry Sykes Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 13505, Odessa TX 79768

Barry Sykes Memorial Endowed Scholarship - University of Texas Permian Basin
UTPB, Office of Advancement, 4901 E. University Blvd., Odessa TX 79762
For more information or online giving, please contact Marisol Chriesman at 432-552-2806.