Interesting Facts About NSMA State Winners
05.16.202465 years’ worth of winners in the archives means the NSMA – and before it, the NSSA – have recognized nearly 7,000 state winners since the April 12, 1960 awards banquet at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC.
That has made for some pretty interesting stories.
Can you name the only family that has produced three generations of award winners from the same state?
NSMA intern Caleb Herrera has the answer and more fun facts about some of our winners.
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE WON BOTH SPORTSWRITER AND SPORTSCASTER AWARDS
- Buddy Diliberto won as a sportswriter in 1963 (New Orleans Times-Picayune) and received his first award as a sportscaster in 1968 (WVUE-TV, New Orleans)
- Dwight Jaynes won his first award as a sportswriter in 1976 (Oregon Journal, Portland) and as a sportscaster in 2013 (Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Portland)
- Hod Nielsen won as a sportscaster in 1976 (KYNT, Yankton) and received his first award as a sportswriter in 1993 (Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan)
- Jack Ebling won his first award as a sportswriter in 1994 (Lansing State Journal) and his first as a sportscaster in 2017 (Spotlight Radio Network & Fox 47, Lansing)
- Jim Irwin won his first award as a sportswriter in 1960 (Associated Press, Albq.) and his first as a sportscaster in 1975 in Wisconsin (WTMJ, Milwaukee)
- John Canzano won his first award as a sportswriter in 2005 (The Oregonian, Portland) and his first as a sportscaster in 2016 (KXTG/750/102.9 The Game, Portland)
- John Romero won as a sportswriter in 1959 (Las Vegas Review-Journal) and as a sportscaster in 1960 (KLRJ, Las Vegas)
- Larry Birleffi won as a sportscaster in 1960 (KFBC, Cheyenne) and as a sportswriter in 1971 (Cheyenne Eagle)
- Mark Smith won as a sportscaster in 1984 (KOB, Albuquerque) and received his first award as a sportswriter in 2013 (Albuquerque Journal)
- Maury White won his first award as a sportswriter in 1962 (Des Moines Register) and as a sportscaster in 1963 (KULR-TV, Billings)
TOP 5 SPORTSWRITERS WITH MOST WINS
- Charley Walters (MN) - 24
- Dick Connor (CO) - 22
- Furman Bisher (GA) - 19
- Si Burick (OH) - 19
- Tom McEwen (FL) - 19
TOP 5 SPORTSCASTERS WITH MOST WINS
- Bob Curtis (ID) - 33
- Vin Scully (CA) - 33
- Don Fischer (IN) - 27
- John Ward (TN) - 24
- Jim Jeannotte (NH) - 23
SPORTSWRITERS WITH WINS IN 3 STATES
- Mike Downey: CA, IL, and MI
- Tom Kensler: CO, OK, and TX
- Dave Kindred: DC, GA, and KY
SPORTSWRITERS WITH WINS IN 2 STATES
- Al Carter: OK and TX
- Bill Dwyre: CA and WI
- Bill Guthrie: CT and NV
- Bob Collins: CO and IN
- Bob Ford: IN and PA
- Bob Hartzell: KS and OK
- Bob Hurt: KS and OK
- Bud Withers: OR and WA
- David Casstevens: AZ and TX
- Davis Potter: MS and WY
- Don Fair: OR and WA
- Gil LeBreton: LA and TX
- Harry Missildine: ID and WA
- Herman Helms: NC and SC
- Jack Chevalier: DE and MD
- Jerry Brewer: KY and WA
- Joe Christensen: MD and MN
- Joe Rexrode: MI and TN
- John Blanchette: MT and WA
- Kevin Iole: NV and VT
- Lynn Henning: MI and MN
- Mark Whicker: NC and PA
- Mike Lowe: ME and NH
- Mike Scherting: MT and ND
- Paul Klee: IL and WY
- Ray Giffin: ID and WY
- Richard Justice: DC and TX
- Rick Brown: IA and KS
- Ron Green Jr.: NC and SC
- Ron Higgins: LA and TN
- Skip Bayless: IL and TX
- Steve Buckley: MA and ME
- Steve Guback: DC and VA
- Steve Kelley: OR and WA
- Steve Luhm: UT and WY
- Steve Rudman:UT and WA
- Terry Frei: CO and OR
- Thom Loverro: DC and MD
- Tom Cushman: CO and PA
SPORTSCASTERS WITH WINS IN 3 OR MORE STATES
- Charlie McAlexander: KY, MS, SC, and TN
- Warren Swain: IA, NE, OR, and VA
- Bob Lobel: MA, NH, and VT
- Ray Scott: FL, MN, PA, and WI
SPORTSCASTERS WITH WINS IN 2 STATES
- Al Michaels: OH & HI
- Bob Blackburn: OR and WA
- Bob Brown: NJ and NM
- Bob Melvin: NH and VT
- Bruce Beck: NJ and NY
- Bryan Field: DE and NJ
- Connie Alexander: NM and TX
- Doug Logan: NY and VA
- Harry Caray: IL and MO
- Harry Kalas: HI and PA
- Joe McConnell: IL and IN
- Ken Korach: CA and NV
- Kevin Calabro: OR and WA
- Mac McDonald: NC and VA
- Marty Brennaman: OH and VA
- Mike Grimm: IA and MN
- Mitch Holthus: KS and MO
- Pat Hughes: IL and WI
- Paul Carey: MI and MN
- Paul Chapman: MI and VT
- Russ Langer: NM and NV
- Scott Garceau: MD and NM
- Steve Martin: ME and NC
- Ted Leitner: OK and CA
- Tom Dillon: AZ and NM
- Tom Hedrick: KS and MO
- Alaska: KTUU TV, Anchorage (8 awards)Alabama: WAPI, Birmingham (13 awards)
- Arizona: KTAR, Phoenix (24 awards)
- Arkansas: KATV, Little Rock (22 awards)
- California: L. A. Dodgers Network (26 awards)
- Colorado: KOA, Denver (28 awards)
- Connecticut: WTIC, Hartford (32 awards)
- Delaware: WILM, Wilmington (18 awards)
- District of Columbia: WRC (11 awards)
- Florida: WFLA, TV, Tampa (15 awards)
- Georgia: WSB, Atlanta (9 awards)
- Hawaii: KGMB-TV, Honolulu (11 awards)
- Idaho: KRPL, Moscow (19 awards)
- Illinois: WGN-TV, Chicago (17 awards)
- Indiana: WIRE, Indianapolis (15 awards)
- Iowa: WMT, Cedar Rapids (9 awards)
- Kansas: WIBW, Topeka (21 awards)
- Kentucky: WHAS, Louisville (19 awards)
- Louisiana: WWL-TV, New Orleans (23 awards)
- Maine: WZON, Bangor (11 awards)
- Maryland: WBAL, Baltimore (24 awards)
- Massachusetts: WHDH, Boston (19 awards)
- Michigan: WJR, Detroit (24 awards)
- Minnesota: WCCO, Minneapolis (37 awards)
- Mississippi: WELO, Tupelo (17 awards)
- Missouri: KMOX, St. Louis (33 awards)
- Montana: KGVO, Missoula (8 awards)
- Nebraska: KFOR, Lincoln (19 awards)
- Nevada: KORK, Las Vegas (9 awards)
- New Hampshire: WKXL, Concord (25 awards)
- New Jersey: WVNJ, Newark (10 awards)
- New Mexico: KRQE-TV, Albuquerque (16 awards)
- New York: WNBC, New York (35 awards)
- North Carolina: WPTF, Raleigh (9 awards)
- North Dakota: KNOX, Grand Forks (6 awards)
- Ohio: Cincinnati Reds Network (15 awards)
- Oklahoma: KWTV, Oklahoma City (15 awards)
- Oregon: KEX, Portland (17 awards)
- Pennsylvania: KDKA, Pittsburgh (13 awards)
- Rhode Island: WJAR, Providence (24 awards)
- South Carolina: South Carolina Gamecocks Sports Network (10 awards)
- South Dakota: KELO, Sioux Falls (11 awards)
- Tennessee: Vol Network, Knoxville (22 awards)
- Texas: WFAA, Dallas (12 awards)
- Utah: KSL-TV, Salt Lake City (8 awards)
- Vermont: WSYB, Rutland (11 awards)
- Virginia: WINA, Charlottesville (12 awards)
- Washington: KOMO, Seattle (11 awards)
- West Virginia: Marshall IMG Sports Network, Huntington (13 awards)
- Wisconsin: WTMJ, Milwaukee (22 awards)
- Wyoming: KFBC, Cheyenne (10 awards)
MEDIA OUTLETS WITH MOST SPORTSWRITER WINS IN EACH STATE
- Alabama: The Huntsville Times (22)
- Alaska: Anchorage Daily News (12)
- Arizona: The Phoenix Gazette (16)
- California: Los Angeles Times (30)
- Colorado: The Denver Post (46)
- Connecticut: Hartford Courant (37
- D.C: The Washington Post (29)
- Delaware: Wilmington News-Journal (45)
- Florida: The Tampa Tribune (22)
- Georgia: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (49)
- Hawaii: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (41)
- Idaho: Boise Idaho Statesman (26)
- Illinois: Chicago Tribune (33)
- Indiana: The Indianapolis Star (24)
- Iowa: Des Moines Register (37)
- Kansas: Topeka Capital-Journal (51)
- Kentucky: Lexington Herald-Leader (24)
- Louisiana: The Times-Picayune (26)
- Maine: Bangor Daily News (31)
- Maryland: The Sun, Baltimore (47)
- Massachusetts: The Boston Globe (46)
- Michigan: Detroit Free Press (33)
- Minnesota: St. Paul Pioneer Press (31)
- Mississippi: The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson (19)
- Missouri: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (37)
- Montana: Great Falls Tribune (26)
- Nebraska: The World-Herald, Omaha (42)
- Nevada: Las Vegas Review-Journal (37)
- New Hampshire: The Union Leader, Manchester (29)
- New Jersey: The Star-Ledger, Newark (17)
- New Mexico: Albuquerque Journal (31)
- New York: New York Times (31)
- North Carolina: Charlotte Observer (17)
- North Dakota: Grand Forks Herald (19)
- Ohio: Dayton Daily News (33)
- Oklahoma: The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City (31)
- Oregon: The Oregonian, Portland (41)
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Daily News (25)
- Rhode Island: Providence Journal (and Journal-Bulletin) (34)
- South Carolina: The State, Columbia (21)
- South Dakota: The Argus Leader, Sioux Falls (21)
- Tennessee: The Tennessean, Nashville (24)
- Texas: Dallas Times Herald (17)
- Utah: The Deseret News, Salt Lake City (36)
- Vermont: Burlington Free-Press (37)
- Virginia: Richmond Times-Dispatch (26)
- Washington: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (27)
- West Virginia: Charleston Daily Mail (18)
- Wisconsin: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (18)
- Wyoming: Casper Star-Tribune (26)
NOTABLE FATHER-SON DUOS
- Jack Buck (KMOX, St. Louis) & Joe Buck (KMOX, St. Louis): 26 Total Wins (and both in the Hall of Fame)
- Marty Brennaman (The Cincinnati Reds) & Thom Brennaman (Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix): 24 Total Wins
- Woody Durham (Tar Heels Sports Network) & Wes Durham (Georgia Tech/Atlanta Falcons): 24 Total Wins
- Bob Barry Sr. (KTVY, Oklahoma City) & Bob Barry Jr. (KFOR-TV, Oklahoma): 23 Total Wins
- Harry Caray (KMOX, St. Louis) & Skip Caray (WQXI-TV, Atlanta): 21 Total Wins
- Marv Albert (WNBC, New York) & Kenny Albert (Rangers/Knicks/MSG, New York): 20 Total Wins
- Gene Morehouse (Marshall University) & Keith Morehouse (WSAZ-TV): 9 Total Wins
WINNERS ACROSS 3 GENERATIONS
- Chuck Leahey (KGU, Honolulu), Jim Leahey (KNHL-TV, Honolulu) & Kanoa Leahey (Spectrum Sports/ESPN 900, Honolulu): 22 Total Wins
- Harry Caray (KMOX, St. Louis & White
Sox Network, Chicago), Skip Caray (WTBS/Braves), & Chip Caray (WGN/Cubs
& Bally Sports/Cardinals): 21 Total Wins
As we stand on the threshold of yet another NSMA Awards Weekend & National Convention, it is important to remember that it is not just celebrating a single event but honoring and continuing a legacy built by the trailblazers, visionaries and the icons of sports media.