All-time NSMA State Award Winners

05.18.2020

Each year, the National Sports Media Association honors Sportscasters and Sportswriters of the Year from 49 states, plus the District of Columbia, at its awards banquet, held in Winston-Salem, NC. These winners are recognized and voted on by NSMA members for their accomplishments over the past year covering sports.

Nihar Maskara
Nihar Maskara

NSMA intern Nihar Maskara, who just completed his freshman year at Wake Forest, compiled the entire list of state winners, and found some interesting stats.


Here are the ten people who have won both a Sportswriter and Sportscaster state award:

  • Larry Birleffi, WY
  • John Canzano, OR
  • Buddy Diliberto, LA
  • Jack Ebling, MI
  • Jim Irwin, WI and NM
  • Dwight Jaynes, OR
  • Hod Nielsen, SD
  • Mark Smith, NM
  • Maury White, MT and IO
  • John Romero, NV


Here is the list of people who have won state awards in different states:

Sportswriters

  • Mike Downey, CA, IL, and MI
  • Tom Kensler, CO, OK, and TX
  • Dave Kindred, DC,GA, and KY
  • Skip Bayless, IL and TX
  • John Blanchette, MT and WA
  • Jerry Brewer, KY and WA
  • Rick Brown, IA and KS
  • Steve Buckley, MA and ME
  • Al Carter, OK and TX
  • David Casstevens, AZ and TX
  • Jack Chevalier, DE and MD
  • Joe Christensen, MD and MN
  • Bob Collins, CO and IN
  • Tom Cushman, CO and PA
  • Bill Dwyre, CA and WI
  • Don Fair, OR and WA
  • Bob Ford, IN and PA
  • Terry Frei, CO and OR
  • Ray Giffin, ID and WY
  • Ron Green Jr, NC and SC
  • Steve Guback, DC and VA
  • Bill Guthrie, CT and NV
  • Bob Hartzell, KS and OK
  • Herman Helms, NC and SC
  • Lynn Henning, MI and MN
  • Ron Higgins, LA and TN
  • Bob Hurt, KS and OK
  • Kevin Iole, NV and VT
  • Richard Justice, DC and TX
  • Steve Kelley, OR and WA
  • Paul Klee, IL and WY
  • Gil LeBreton, LA and TX
  • Thom Loverro, DC and MD
  • Mike Lowe, ME and NH
  • Steve Luhm, UT and WY
  • Harry Missildine, ID and WA
  • Davis Potter, MS and WY
  • Joe Rexrode, MI and TN
  • Steve Rudman, UT and WA
  • Mike Scherting, MT and ND
  • Mark Whicker, NC and PA
  • Bud Withers, OR and WA

Sportscasters

  • Charlie McAlexander, KY, MS, SC, and TN
  • Ray Scott, FL, MN, PA, and WI
  • Warren Swain, IA, NE, OR, and VA
  • Bob Lobel, MA, NH, and VT
  • Connie Alexander, NM and TX
  • Bruce Beck, NJ and NY
  • Bob Blackburn, OR and WA
  • Marty Brennaman, OH and VA
  • Bob Brown, NJ and NM
  • Kevin Calabro, OR and WA
  • Harry Caray, IL and MO
  • Paul Carey, MI and MN
  • Paul Chapman, MI and VT
  • Tom Dillon, AZ and NM
  • Bryan Field, DE and NJ
  • Scott Garceau, MD and NM
  • Mike Grimm, IA and MN
  • Tom Hedrick, KS and MO
  • Mitch Holthus, KS and MO
  • Pat Hughes, IL and WI
  • Harry Kalas, HI and PA
  • Ken Korach, CA and NV
  • Russ Langer, NM and NV
  • Ted Leitner, OK and CA
  • Doug Logan, NY and VA
  • Steve Martin, ME and NC
  • Joe McConnell, IL and IN
  • Mac McDonald, NC and VA
  • Bob Melvin, NH and VT
  • Al Michaels, HI and OH
  • Jack Michaels, NC and ND
  • Scott Miller, MT and ND
  • Max Morgan, AR and MD
  • Leo Morris, NC and WY
  • Larry Munson, GA and TN
  • Jim Powell, SC and WI
  • Bob Rathbun, GA and VA
  • Gary Sanders, AL and TN
  • Greg Sharpe, KS and NE
  • Scott Wahle, MA and NE
  • Rick Weaver, FL and NE
  • Ken Wilson, HI and MO
  • Warner Wolf, DC and NY


Here is the list of the five sportswriters and sportscasters who have won the most NSMA state awards:

Sportswriters

  • Charley Walters, MN; 24
  • Dick Connor, CO; 22
  • Tom McEwen, FL; 19
  • Furman Bisher, GA; 19
  • Si Burick, OH; 19

Sportscasters

  • Vin Scully, CA; 33
  • Bob Curtis, ID; 33
  • Don Fischer, IN; 27
  • John Ward, TN; 24
  • Bob Martin, CO; 22


Here is a list of sportswriters and sportscasters with the most awards in each state:

Sportswriters

State

Name

# of All-time Wins

AK - Alaska

Lew Freedman

10

AL - Alabama

John Pruett

16

AR - Arkansas

Jim Bailey

18

AZ - Arizona

Joe Gilmartin

16

CA - California

Scott Ostler

14

CO - Colorado

Dick Connor

22

CT - Connecticut

Jeff Jacobs

10

DC - Washington D.C.

Dave Kindred

5

DE - Delaware

Hal Bodley

12

FL - Florida

Tom McEwen

19

GA - Georgia

Furman Bisher

19

HI - Hawaii

Stephen Tsai

6

ID - Idaho

Larry Hovey

8

IL - Illinois

Bob Verdi

18

IN - Indiana

Bob Hammel

17

IA - Iowa

Rick Brown

11

KS - Kansas

Bob Hentzen

15

KY - Kentucky

Billy Reed

8

LA - Louisiana

Peter Finney

17

MA - Massachusetts

Dan Shaughnessy

13

MD - Maryland

Phil Jackman

15

ME - Maine

Pete Warner

8

MI - Michigan

Joe Falls and Jerry Green

11

MN - Minnesota

Charley Walters

24

MO - Missouri

Joe McGuff

7

MS - Mississippi

Rick Cleveland

13

MT - Montana

Scott Mansch

10

NC - North Carolina

Wilt Browning and Ronald Green

5

ND - North Dakota

Greg DeVillers

7

NE - Nebraska

Lee Barfknecht

12

NH - New Hampshire

Allen Lessels

12

NJ - New Jersey

Tom Luicci

10

NM - New Mexico

Phill Casaus and Pancho Morris

9

NV - Nevada

Steve Carp and Ed Graney

6

NY - New York

George Vecsey and Dick Young

12

OH - Ohio

Si Burick

19

OK - Oklahoma

Bill Connors

11

OR - Oregon

Leo Davis and George Pasero

7

PA - Pennsylvania

Bill Lyon

7

RI - Rhode Island

Rick McGowan

14

SC - South Carolina

Ken Burger and Leslie Timms

7

SD - South Dakota

Don Lindner

11

TN - Tennessee

David Climer

8

TX - Texas

Blackie Sherrod

16

UT - Utah

Lee Benson

14

VA - Virginia

David Teel

13

VT - Vermont

Mike Donoghue

10

WA - Washington

John Blanchette

9

WI - Wisconsin

Cliff Christl

7

WV - West Virginia

Chuck Landon

10

WY - Wyoming

Bob Hammond

15

Sportscasters

State

Name

# of Wins

AK - Alaska

John Carpenter

7

AL - Alabama

Jim Fyffe

9

AR - Arkansas

Paul Eells

13

AZ - Arizona

Tom Dillon

21

CA - California

Vin Scully

33

CO - Colorado

Bob Martin

22

CT - Connecticut

Rich Coppola and Joe D’Ambrosio

9

DC - Washington D.C.

Frank Herzog

9

DE - Delaware

Bob Kelley

19

FL - Florida

Gene Deckerhoff

15

GA - Georgia

Wes Durham and Pete Van Wieren

11

HI - Hawaii

Jim Leahey

17

ID - Idaho

Bob Curtis

33

IL - Illinois

Harry Caray

10

IN - Indiana

Don Fischer

27

IA - Iowa

Bob Brooks and Ron Gonder

8

KS - Kansas

Bob Davis

14

KY - Kentucky

Cawood Ledford

22

LA - Louisiana

Buddy Diliberto

15

MA - Massachusetts

Mike Lynch

16

MD - Maryland

Vince Bagli

10

ME - Maine

Rich Kimball

7

MI - Michigan

Ernie Harwell

19

MN - Minnesota

Herb Carneal

20

MO - Missouri

Jack Buck

22

MS - Mississippi

Jack Cristil

22

MT - Montana

Mick Holien

13

NC - North Carolina

Woody Durham

13

ND - North Dakota

Lee Halvorson

7

NE - Nebraska

Kevin Kugler

9

NH - New Hampshire

Jim Jeannotte

23

NJ - New Jersey

Tom Williams

10

NM - New Mexico

Van Tate

12

NV - Nevada

Russ Langer

10

NY - New York

Marv Albert

19

OH - Ohio

Marty Brennaman

16

OK - Oklahoma

Bob Barry Sr.

15

OR - Oregon

Darrell Aune

12

PA - Pennsylvania

Harry Kalas

17

RI - Rhode Island

Chris Clark

16

SC - South Carolina

Bob Fulton

8

SD - South Dakota

Danny Olson

8

TN - Tennessee

John Ward

24

TX - Texas

Brad Sham

12

UT - Utah

Bill Howard

8

VA - Virginia

Bill Roth

11

VT - Vermont

Jack Healey

20

WA - Washington

Bob Robertson

12

WI - Wisconsin

Jim Irwin and Matt Lepay

10

WV - West Virginia

Steve Cotton

14

WY - Wyoming

Dave Walsh

9


For all of the great sports media personnel there are, none of it would be possible without the outlets that give them the platform. Many are iconic brands in their home states.

Here is a list of the media outlets that have the most wins in each state:

Sportswriters

State

Outlet

# of Affiliate Wins

AK - Alaska

Anchorage Daily News

12

AL - Alabama

The Huntsville Times

23

AR - Arkansas

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock

24

AZ - Arizona

The Phoenix Gazette

16

CA - California

Los Angeles Times

30

CO - Colorado

The Denver Post

46

CT - Connecticut

The Hartford Courant

36

DC - Washington D.C.

The Washington Post

29

DE - Delaware

News Journal, Wilmington

42

FL - Florida

The Tampa Tribune

22

GA - Georgia

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

59

HI - Hawaii

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

41

ID - Idaho

Boise Idaho Statesman

26

IL - Illinois

Chicago Tribune

32

IN - Indiana

Indianapolis Star

20

IA - Iowa

The Des Moines Register

37

KS - Kansas

Topeka Capital-Journal

49

KY - Kentucky

Lexington Herald-Leader and Louisville Courier-Journal

24

LA - Louisiana

The Times Picayune, New Orleans

26

MA - Massachusetts

The Boston Globe

46

MD - Maryland

The Sun, Baltimore

46

ME - Maine

Bangor Daily News

30

MI - Michigan

Detroit Free Press

32

MN - Minnesota

St. Paul Pioneer Press

31

MO - Missouri

St. Louis Post Dispatch

26

MS - Mississippi

The Clarion Ledger, Jackson

18

MT - Montana

Great Falls Tribune

25

NC - North Carolina

The Charlotte Observer

19

ND - North Dakota

The Forum, Fargo

17

NE - Nebraska

Omaha World-Herald, Omaha

38

NH - New Hampshire

The Union Leader, Manchester

28

NJ - New Jersey

The Star-Ledger, Newark

18

NM - New Mexico

Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque

29

NV - Nevada

Las Vegas Review-Journal

32

NY - New York

The New York Times

29

OH - Ohio

Dayton Daily News

33

OK - Oklahoma

The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City

29

OR - Oregon

The Oregonian, Portland

39

PA - Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Daily News

24

RI - Rhode Island

Providence Journal

26

SC - South Carolina

The State, Columbia

21

SD - South Dakota

The Rapid City Journal

19

TN - Tennessee

The Tennessean, Nashville

23

TX - Texas

Dallas Times Herald

17

UT - Utah

The Deseret News, Salt Lake City

30

VA - Virginia

Richmond Times-Dispatch

22

VT - Vermont

The Burlington Free Press

35

WA - Washington

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

27

WI - Wisconsin

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

43

WV - West Virginia

Charleston Daily Mail

18

WY - Wyoming

Laramie Daily Boomerang

23

Sportscasters

State

Outlet

# of Affiliate Wins

AK - Alaska

KTUU TV, Anchorage

8

AL - Alabama

WAPI, Birmingham

13

AR - Arkansas

KATV, Little Rock

22

AZ - Arizona

KTAR, Phoenix

24

CA - California

Los Angeles Dodgers

26

CO - Colorado

KOA, Denver

28

CT - Connecticut

WTIC, Hartford

32

DC - Washington D.C.

WRC

11

DE - Delaware

WILM, Wilmington

18

FL - Florida

WFLA, TV, Tampa

15

GA - Georgia

WSB, Atlanta

9

HI - Hawaii

KGMB, Honolulu

11

ID - Idaho

KRPL, Moscow

19

IL - Illinois

WGN-TV, Chicago

17

IN - Indiana

WIRE, Indianapolis

15

IA - Iowa

WMT, Cedar Rapids

9

KS - Kansas

WIBW, Topeka

21

KY - Kentucky

WHAS, Louisville

19

LA - Louisiana

WWL-TV, New Orleans

23

MA - Massachusetts

WHDH, Boston

19

MD - Maryland

WBAL, Baltimore

24

ME - Maine

WZON, Bangor

11

MI - Michigan

WJR, Detroit

24

MN - Minnesota

WCCO, Minneapolis

37

MO - Missouri

KMOX, St. Louis

33

MS - Mississippi

WELO, Tupelo

17

MT - Montana

Grizzly Sports Network, Polson and KGVO, Missoula

8

NC - North Carolina

WPTF, Raleigh

9

ND - North Dakota

KNOX, Grand Forks

6

NE - Nebraska

KFOR, Lincoln

19

NH - New Hampshire

WKXL, Concord

25

NJ - New Jersey

WVNJ, Newark

10

NM - New Mexico

KRQE-TV, Albuquerque

15

NV - Nevada

KORK, Las Vegas

9

NY - New York

WNBC-TV, New York

35

OH - Ohio

Cincinnati Reds Network

15

OK - Oklahoma

KWTV, Oklahoma City

15

OR - Oregon

KEX, Portland

17

PA - Pennsylvania

KDKA, Pittsburgh

13

RI - Rhode Island

WJAR-TV, Providence

24

SC - South Carolina

South Carolina Gamecocks Sports Network

10

SD - South Dakota

KELO, Sioux Falls

11

TN - Tennessee

Vol Network, Knoxville

22

TX - Texas

WFAA, Dallas

12

UT - Utah

KSL-TV, Salt Lake City

14

VA - Virginia

Virginia Tech Hokies/IMG Sports Radio Network, Blacksburg

12

VT - Vermont

WSYB, Rutland

11

WA - Washington

KOMO, Seattle and
Seattle SuperSonics

11

WI - Wisconsin

WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee

22

WV - West Virginia

Marshall IMG Sports Network, Huntington

13

WY - Wyoming

KFBC Radio, Cheyenne

10


It’s been awesome to look back at history and acknowledge the all-time sports media winners of the NSMA state award. There have been so many legends in the industry and there will be many more to come.

There is no doubt that it was very disheartening to cancel this year’s NSMA award show, but we will come back bigger and better than ever next year by honoring this year’s and next year’s award winners.


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