For more than 40 years, Fresno State fans have proudly called themselves the “Red Wave,” a passionate force always cheering in support of the Bulldogs. On Saturday, March 1, the man who started it all finally got his moment in the spotlight. 

Fresno State honored retired Fresno Bee journalist Ron Orozco during the men’s basketball game, recognizing him for coining the now-iconic phrase on Jan. 17, 1981. 

As his name echoed through the arena’s public address (PA) system, the crowd erupted in cheers.

“I felt very humbled, it’s such a high honor,” Orozco said. “I was overwhelmed by it all, in a good way. I felt this was a special moment. I worked at The Fresno Bee for 41 years and never thought that one of my legacies would be coining the phrase ‘The Red Wave.’”

Orozco recalled how the term came to be, saying it was simply a reflection of what he saw in the stands.

“You saw the fans in red. At home and on the road, they showed up wearing red, so I wrote what I saw. In essence, the term wrote itself,” Orozco said.

Many fans at the game did not know Orozco would be honored but once announced, the fans stood and gave Orozco loud cheers and claps. 

“I had no idea the man who named the Red Wave would be here,” said Fresno State alumna Katherine Cardenas, a longtime season ticket holder. “Being a part of the Red Wave is something unique to those of us born and raised in the Central Valley. I haven’t missed a game all season, the Red Wave always backs the Bulldogs.” 

After being recognized Orozco was escorted off the court, but his moment didn’t end there. Fans quickly huddled around him on the sidelines, asking for photos, shaking his hand and thanking him for giving their passionate fan base and identity. 

Marcus Marrimont, a Fresno resident who has attended every basketball home game since moving to the city in 2020, said the moment helped him appreciate the history behind the phrase.

“I didn’t know the history of the Red Wave, so seeing the man who started it all being honored today felt good,” Marrimont said.

Orozco, who spent his time at The Bee first as a sports reporter and later a feature reporter, was also inducted into the university’s Mass, Communication and Journalism Hall of Fame in 2015. 

His impact stretched beyond Fresno State sports. Whether he was reporting on local athletes, community events or personal profiles, Orozco was known for his storytelling ability and dedication to shining a light on the people who made Fresno unique. His writing left a lasting mark on both The Bee and the Central Valley community.

For Jaime Gutierrez, a Fresno State Media, Communications and Journalism student, the Red Wave has been a part of his life since childhood. Now, as an aspiring play-by-play announcer for the Bulldogs’ men’s basketball team, he hopes to continue growing the passion Orozco helped create.

“The Red Wave is special, it’s more than just a fan base, it’s a family,” Gutierrez said.  “I grew up knowing what it meant to be a Bulldogs fan, and one day, I hope to be calling games for Fresno State and helping keep the Red Wave growing.”

Orozco’s impact extends beyond sports, but for Fresno State fans, his words have created a lasting identity, one that continues to unite generations of Bulldogs’ supporters.