Kopsea, Lesar, Nagle Among HOF Recipients
GREENWOOD – For the 21st year, the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association is pleased to announce its annual Hall of Fame Class, set to be inducted in its annual award banquet to be held on Sunday, April 10th at Valle Vista Country Club in Greenwood.
This year’s class includes the following personalities who have graced Hoosier newspapers, radio stations, and television airwaves over the last several decades. The inductees are as follows:
Matt Kopsea, Regional Radio Sports Network/Indiana Football Digest – After nearly 20 years with the South Bend Tribune, Kopsea is now in his fifth year of working with the Regional Radio Sports Network and writing for the Indiana Football Digest. In addition to his experience as a sportswriter, Kopsea has worked in the front office for the South Bend Silver Hawks (now Cubs) and as the sports information director at Bethel College.
Bob Nagle, WHME TV 46 in South Bend – Nagle has been a broadcaster in the South Bend area for just shy of 40 years. Nagle began his career at WSBT in the late 70s, and has been a part of numerous state championship broadcasts both to the South Bend area and as a part of the statewide television network. In addition, Nagle has a longstanding relationship with various aspects of Notre Dame athletics, ranging from football to women’s basketball to baseball.
Kent Hormann, Fort Wayne Television and Radio – Hormann spent over 20 years with WKJG in Fort Wayne as both a videographer and sports reporter and eventually became the station’s sports director. In addition, Hormann has broadcast professional events in Fort Wayne, ranging from the Fury, Mad Ants, TinCaps, Wizards, plus IPFW basketball and volleyball.
Pete DiPrimio, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel – DiPrimio has covered both the Indiana and Purdue beat for several years, and his work includes covering Final Fours, Indy 500s, and Brickyard 400s. In addition, DiPrimio has authored three books about Indiana University athletics and 20 children’s books focusing on sports.
Dan Korb, Evansville Courier & Press – Korb has been a part of the sports scene in Southwestern Indiana for over 30 years. Korb’s coverage has ranged from all things auto racing, including the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400, to the college beats of both Purdue and Southern Indiana. Korb has previously won the Corky Lamm Award as the top sportswriter in the state in 2013 as awarded by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
Chris Denari, Television voice of Indiana Pacers – Denari is now in his 10th year as the TV voice of the Pacers on Fox Sports Indiana. Prior to that, Denari spent nearly 20 years as the radio voice of the Butler Bulldogs. He’s been on the call of the Indy 500 for many years, including the prestigious perch atop turn four at the Speedway. Denari was also on the first news staff at what is now Fox 59 in Indianapolis back in the mid-80s, and later was the Sports Director there prior to joining the Pacers full-time in 2006.
In addition to these new Hall of Famers, the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association will recognize winners of annual honors like the Marv Bates Sportscaster of the Year, the Corky Lamm Sportswriter of the Year, The Ron Lemasters Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Bob Williams Helping Hand Award. Those winners are as follows:
Corky Lamm Sportswriter of the Year: Al Lesar, South Bend Tribune – Lesar has been covering high school sports for over 30 years in South Bend, but has also covered Notre Dame and Big Ten football during his time with the paper. These days, Lesar is both the assistant sports editor as well as a columnist for the Tribune.
Marv Bates Sportscaster of the Year: Michael Grady, WFNI/WRTV Indianapolis – Grady is both a major part of the radio and television airwaves in Indianapolis. He’s been a part of 1070 The Fan since its inception in 2008, and has hosted a late morning talk show with former Colt Joe Staysniak since 2011. In August 2014, Grady joined the staff of WRTV, the ABC affiliate in Indianapolis. Fans should also be familiar with Grady’s voice at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as he’s the PA voice of both the Pacers and the Fever.
Ron Lemasters Lifetime Achievement Award: Ron Lemasters – Lemasters passed away after a sudden illness last March at the age of 76. Lemasters was the former sports editor of the Muncie Star and was a member of the staff for nearly 40 years before retiring. After retiring, he served on the news bureau at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for 15 Indy 500s. This is the first year this award is being presented in Lemasters’ name, with his family receiving the inaugural edition.
Bob Williams Helping Hand Award: Andrew Smith – Smith has broadcast a wide range of sporting events of the year, from high school sports primarily in Hancock County to Franklin College athletics. In addition, Smith teaches and coaches at New Palestine High School, and serves as the Sports Information Director for New Pal athletics. His gameday notes are the equivalent of what most Division I colleges provide to writers and broadcasters. He’s also the PA voice of the Indy Fuel.
All 10 honorees will be recognized at the group’s annual banquet on April 10th which begins at 2 p.m. at Valle Vista Country Club in Greenwood. Tickets are available with meal included for $30. To order tickets, send a check for $30 to Fred Inniger, ISSA Treasurer, 3011 Noble Hawk Drive, Kendallville, IN 46755.
The Indiana Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association was founded in 1946. It created it’s Hall of Fame 50 years later in 1996. Currently with 99 members, the Hall of Fame roster will surpass the 100 mark with the induction of the 2016 six-member class.