Interesting Facts About NSMA State Winners

05.16.2024

65 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

MEDIA OUTLETS WITH MOST SPORTSCASTER WINS IN EACH STATE

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.

« Back