The legendary broadcaster achieved 'folk hero' status while calling Penguins games for almost half a century. But it was his appreciation of the region and its people that made him unforgettable.

Elvis may have finally left the building, but Mike Lange's spirit and presence aren't going anywhere.

Lange, who died at age 76 on Wednesday, spent 46 years calling games for the Penguins, initially educating, entertaining and growing a relatively non-existent fan base during the franchise's dark days, and then eventually chronicling, celebrating and punctuating championships won by Hall-of-Famers.

The Penguins never would have become part of the fabric of the region, as they are today, without Lange.

The Penguins probably never would have survived in Pittsburgh while waiting on Mario Lemieux, and then again on Sidney Crosby, without Lange.

His statue deserves a prominent spot right near Lemieux's outside of PPG Paints Arena.

Lange was most recognizable for his colorful, creative calls in the moment, whatever a given moment happened to demand throughout the course of a game.

But it was his anticipation, his understanding of what was happening, why it was happening and, most importantly, what it meant relative to what might happen next that made him a Hall-of-Famer.

You really didn't have to be there to believe it, you just had to hear Lange describe it with his nuance, inflection, context and perspective.

That, and Lange's uncanny ability to quickly assimilate from Sacramento to Pittsburgh at the outset of his career (he was a native of Sacramento, California, and educated at Sacramento State University) made him not only one of the best ever at what he did but also a second coming of Pittsburgh legend Bob Prince.

"He wasn't a California kid," maintained Phil Bourque, a former Penguins player and one of Lange's longtime broadcast partners. "He was born there and grew up there but he was more of just a simple yinzer. He appreciated the simplicity of people in this area, and I mean that in a positive way.

"We like a cold beer. We like our pierogies. We like our sports. We keep it simple and we don't like a lot of changes in our life. And Mikey was like that, too."

Bourque's a native of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, but he's been around these parts long enough to get it.

Lange was here long enough to help define it and personify it.

His appreciation of people ranged from NHL general managers and other assorted big shots, to arena elevator operators and press box denizens, to those he'd encounter while listening to a blues band at Moondogs in Blawnox (a passion of Lange's that rivaled calling a game).

Lange was far from famous when he got here for the 1974-75 Penguins campaign.

He leaves an unforgettable legacy.

"He was a folk hero," insisted Paul Steigerwald, who estimated sharing a broadcast booth with Lange for approximately 1,200 NHL games. "I looked up the definition of a folk hero, there's a few different things that are written to kind of describe the characteristics of one. They are often popular with and respected by ordinary people. They usually have a special skill or trait. They're often remembered for their deeds, which are passed down orally and changed to fit the situation. They're often remembered for their personality and name. They are often remembered for their home communities, which are important to them.

"I can't think of anybody that would fit that description more than Mike Lange. He meant so much to the community and the community meant so much to him, that was the key. Everything that he came up with was derived from his relationship with the people. They sent him those sayings, he decided which ones to use. And he was open to other people's suggestions in a way that made them feel like they were part of it.

"So they were part of him, he was part of them. That's what made Mike Lange unique in a way that very, very few people can say they were. There's maybe a handful of sports broadcasters that you can truly call a folk hero, and that's exactly what he was."

I'll be cow-kicked.

"It was an honor," former Penguins player, head coach and color analyst Eddie Olczyk said of working with Lange. "He made people smile regardless of the score.

"He loved the Penguins, I cannot emphasize that enough. He loved the 'Burgh and he loved that team and he loved going to work. We're lucky to all have heard him and know him and share a small part of his incredible, incredible life."

One that will be remembered and celebrated as long as there are Hockey Nights in Pittsburgh.