Munson Headed to Hall of Fame

Courtesy UGA Athletics...

Longtime University of Georgia radio announcer Larry Munson will be inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame during the organization’s 50th Annual Awards program scheduled May 2-4 in Salisbury, NC.

Munson called Georgia football games from 1966 to 2007. Starting at age 20, Munson began to accumulate lots of experience in sports broadcasting. He called games for major and minor league baseball, the University of Wyoming football and basketball, Nashville Vols (baseball), Vanderbilt football and basketball for 16 years and was a member of the original Atlanta Braves broadcast team when they moved from Milwaukee.

"This is an overwhelming tribute, and I am honored to be selected to this group of outstanding and accomplished professionals," said Munson. "To be elected to any Hall of Fame is quite humbling, but to be chosen to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor."

This award will be added to his many other broadcasting accolades. Munson was recognized by the Georgia General Assembly in 1983, inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1994 and the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Munson is also the 2003 recipient of the Chris Schenkel Award, given annually by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The award recognizes broadcasters with long and distinguished careers in broadcasting college football, as well as their contributions to community service. He was also named winner of the 2008 Furman Bisher Award for Sports Media Excellence presented by the Atlanta Sports Council.

Hall of Famers are nominated by an NSSA panel and then voted on by their 700 sportswriters and broadcast members. Leigh Montville from the Boston Globe/Sports Illustrated will also be inducted.

Jim Nantz of CBS will be recognized as the National Sportscaster of the Year and Bob Ryan of the will be recognized as the National Sportswriter of the Year.