Indiana High School Athletic Association

     9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

______________________________________________________________________

MEDIA ADVISORY                                                     January 27, 2005

Contact: Jerry Baker, Sports Information Director                                  

E-Mail: jbaker@ihsaa.org

 

TOM BYRUM NAMED DISTRICT II MEDIA SERVICE AWARD WINNER

Tom Byrum, sportswriter for the News-Gazette in Winchester and broadcaster for WZZY Radio in Richmond, has been selected as the 2004-2005 recipient of the IHSAA Distinguished Media Service Award for District II.

 

Byrum will be honored on Friday, February 4, 2005 in a special ceremony prior to the Winchester vs. Monroe Central boys basketball game, to be played at Winchester High School.  Blake Ress, IHSAA Commissioner, will be on hand for the presentation.

 

This is the 21st year the IHSAA has recognized an outstanding member of the Indiana media from each of the three IHSAA legislative districts for excellence in the coverage of high school sports. District II covers 28 counties across central Indiana.

 

Tom is a life-long resident of Randolph County, graduating from Randolph Southern High School in 1974.  He is in his 25th year with the News-Gazette, covering Winchester Golden Falcons boys basketball, plus other county boys and girls high school basketball teams. 

 

He started his journalistic career as a high school football and basketball color analyst for WIUC Radio in 1976.  His broadcast career now includes, in addition to his color analyst duties on WZZY, a Saturday morning coaches show, the Randolph County Roundup.

 

In addition to his writing and broadcasting duties, Tom has served as Program Director for the Randolph County YMCA for the past 14 years.

 

Tom and his wife of 28 years, Sharon, have three children: Deishima, Thomas and Faye Ann. 

 

On behalf of its 398 member schools, the Indiana High School Athletic Association is pleased to salute Tom Byrum and recognize his dedicated service to high school athletics in the state of Indiana by presenting him with the 2004-2005 Distinguished Media Service Award for District II.

 

Past recipients of the Distinguished Media Service Award from District II include:

 

Hilliard Gates, WKJG-TV, Fort Wayne, 1984-85

Leroy Lambright, Goshen News, 1985-86

Bob Ford, Kokomo Tribune, 1986-87

Jim Costin, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, 1987-88

Dennis Kraft, Elkhart Truth, 1988-89

Ken Hill, Sports Hotline, Marion, 1989-90

Dick DeFay, WKJG-TV, Fort Wayne, 1990-91

Forrest Miller, South Bend Tribune, 1991-92

George Frye, Huntington Herald-Press, 1992-93

Greg Bell, WIOU/WZWZ, Kokomo, 1993-94

Len Davis, WGL, Fort Wayne, 1994-95

Curt Rallo, South Bend Tribune, 1995-96

Dave Kitchell, Kokomo Tribune, 1996-97

Vince Turner, WTRC, Elkhart, 1997-98

Jim Brunner, WBAT, Marion, 1998-99

Dean Pantazi, WPTA-TV, Fort Wayne, 1999-00

Paul Beitler, Bluffton News-Banner, 2000-01

Pat McKee, Indianapolis Star, 2001-02

Bob Lovell, Network Indiana, 2002-03

Scott Gregg, Carmel H.S.-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, 2003-04