SPORTS
GOLD CIRCLE - SPORTS
The Gold Circle honors media professionals who began their careers in television at least 50 years ago, either in a performing, creative, technical or administrative role within the industry or in an area related to television such as TV journalism education, advertising, promotion, and public relations.
Over the course of their 50-year career, they must also have made a significant contribution to the Lone Star Chapter.
The Lone Star Chapter of NATAS has been honoring and celebrating our Gold Circle members since 2004.
Gold Circle Honoree
2018
SILVER CIRCLE - SPORTS
The Silver Circle honors media professionals who began their careers in television at least 25 years ago, either in a performing, creative, technical or administrative role within the industry or in an area related to television such as TV journalism education, advertising, promotion, and public relations.
Over the course of their 25-year career, they must also have made a significant contribution to the Lone Star Chapter.
The Lone Star Chapter of NATAS has been honoring and celebrating our Silver Circle members since 2003.
Silver Circle Honorees
2023
2019
2019
2019
2018
2018
Gold Circle Honoree
Verne Lundquist
Verne Lundquist has been blessed with all the opportunity a sportscaster could dream of covering many of the major sporting events in America for more than fifty years.
Lundquist began his career at KTBC-TV in Austin, a station owned by President and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson and quickly advanced to becoming the voice of the Dallas Cowboys (1972 – 84), where he was the sports director at WFAA-TV in Dallas for sixteen years. He won seven consecutive Texas Sportscaster of the Year Awards (1977- 83) and was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2003. Lundquist was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. It was the first time in the 55-year history of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame that members of the media were inducted. Lundquist was part of the inaugural class along with seven other legendary sportscasters and sports writers.
Lundquist went on to an illustrious career at CBS Sports where he continues today as a play-by-play announcer for College Football, the NCAA Tournament, and Golf.
Verne Lundquist joined CBS Sports in 1982, and during his tenure has broadcast more than 20 different sports for the Network. He is CBS Sports’ lead play-by-play announcer for college football teaming with Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce to call the popular SEC on CBS package featuring the “SEC Game of the Week.” He also is currently a play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports’ coverage of NCAA basketball including the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. He was also the lead play-by-play announcer for figure skating at the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Olympic Winter Games.
In addition to his long career at CBS, Lundquist worked at ABC Sports from 1974-81 and three years as play-by-play announcer for TNT’s NFL, NBA, golf and figure skating coverage (1995-97).
Lundquist earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Texas Lutheran University in 1962 and received the school’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also is a member of Texas Lutheran’s Board of Regents. He lives in Steamboat Springs, Colo., with his wife, Nancy.
Silver Circle Honoree
Noah Bullard
Noah Bullard’s life changed when he tried sports photography for the first time in a 1992 media technology class at Socorro High School in El Paso. The result of that eye-opening experience was an emerging passion for photojournalism and a clear natural ability to see and capture powerful and memorable video.
Now, in his 30 years as a professional photojournalist, Noah has been blessed to shoot some of the biggest and best sporting events in the world. He has been on-scene at three Olympics, three World Series, two NBA Finals, two Stanley Cup Finals — including the Dallas Stars championship run, two NCAA football national championship games, ten Super Bowls, over 400 Dallas Cowboys games, and thousands of high school sporting events.
After attending New Mexico State University, his professional journey began in his hometown of El Paso at KDBC-TV. That’s where Bullard spent three years covering high school sports and the legendary Don Haskins at UTEP. He then moved east to WAWS-TV in Jacksonville, Florida, focusing on the Jacksonville Jaguars, Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators for four years.
That is when his new home city came calling.
KDAF-TV in Dallas hired Noah to cover his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, as well as the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars. In 2005, KXAS-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth added Bullard to the NBC 5 team, where he continues to cover sports today with long-time sports anchor and multiple Emmy® award winner Newy Scruggs.
What sets Noah apart is his ability as a storyteller. With over 25 regional Emmy® awards, a national Edward R. Murrow award, and several regional Edward R. Murrow awards, his true gift is in creatively shooting and producing feature stories that leave an audience inspired, moved and captivated.
That creativity and love of sports should come as no surprise though. Noah’s grandfather, Augustine Quiroz, was a famous Mexican wrestler known as “El Gargantua,” He displayed memorable creativity in his occupation, teaching him to love the Dallas Cowboys at a young age. His parents, George and Micaela Bullard, also provided support and faith in his career dreams, believing he would absolutely succeed in his photography goals.
But now, 30 years later, what Noah truly believes has increased his passion for his craft and changed his life for the better is the love and support he receives from his wife, Cheryl, and two children, Lauren and Jace. They are his everything, and he works daily to make them proud.
The photojournalism journey Noah Bullard has been on throughout his thirty-year career has been nothing short of a dream come true, and he remains extremely grateful he walked into that media technology class in 1992, changing his life forever.
Silver Circle Honoree
Mike Doocy
Mike Doocy was named weeknight sports anchor at KDFW/FOX 4 in March of 1994.
Since then, he has covered some of our region’s most important sports stories. Mike was on the scene for a Mavericks NBA title, a Stars Stanley Cup victory, and two Rangers World Series appearances. He’s been around long enough to have covered a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl win!
Mike anchors FOX 4's 30 minute “Free 4 All” sports show weeknights at 10:30. He also host Sports Sunday at 10pm. Mike makes frequent appearances on FOX 4's Good Day, and hosts several sports specials through the year. On occasion, you’ll hear Mike fill in with the boys on “The Ticket,” and with Bo and Jim on “LoneStar 92.5”.
A native of Bancroft, Iowa (pop 750), Mike began his career in college radio at his alma mater, the University of Iowa. His early radio jobs included stops in Webster City IA and Topeka KS.
After moving into television, Mike worked for stations in LaCrosse, WI and Cedar Rapids, IA.
Mike and his wife Ruth are the parents of two daughters, Christina and Laura.
Mike is proud of his association with many fine public service organizations, including Citizens Development Center, Shrine Children’s Hospitals, Marine Corps Toys for Tots and March of Dimes.
Silver Circle Honoree
Jose Gant
Jose Gant has been a staple of the WFAA sports department for the past 4 decades. He has served as photographer, editor, assignment editor, producer, field producer and assistant sports director over this span. There’s not a person in the market that knows as much about the North Texas’ sports scene, and is known (and loved) by as many athletes and coaches, former and current, as Jose. His nickname is the Mayor of Dallas/Fort Worth Sports Media.
No one can compete with Jose when it comes to mapping out the important stories and logistics that go into our sports coverage on any given day. While at WFAA, Jose has served as producer for the legendary sports anchors, and silver-circle members, Dale Hansen and Verne Lundquist.
Jose has covered Super Bowls, NBA Finals, World Series and Stanley Cup Finals.
Jose was part of the WFAA Sports team that broke the 1987 SMU Death Penalty Scandal that earned both a Peabody and duPont-Columbia Award. He continues to both shoot and produce award-winning sports content to this day.
After starting his career in Shreveport, LA in 1974, Jose moved to WFAA in 1980. He has been a true difference maker in sports coverage in the Dallas/Fort Worth market in those four decades. And he continues to be the ultimate team player with more connections than the most-sourced reporters.
Jose is a proud husband, father and grandfather.
Silver Circle Honoree
Arnold Payne
Arnold Payne is widely known among his peers as one of the most talented sports photojournalists in the country. He has a unique eye for the story behind the story and has covered sports across the globe. Arnold started at KTBS-TV in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1979 before moving to WFAA in Dallas in 1980.
Over the past 4 decades at WFAA, Arnold has covered 13 Super Bowls, multiple NBA Finals, World Series and Stanley Cup Finals. He has shot just about every Dallas Cowboys football game, home and away, for more than 30 years… dating back to the Tom Landry era.
The images “AP” captured the day the Cowboys practice facility collapsed are still hard to believe. Showing “it’s never too late to reinvent yourself,” Arnold shot, produced, wrote and for the first time ever, reported a story in 2017. The feature was on amputee boxer, Roy Martin III and Arnold was honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award as a reporter.
Not only has he shot thousands of stories that have aired on WFAA, he has also shot and produced many award winning documentaries, including: Emmitt Smith – On Route 22, The Landry Legacy and Valley Ranch – If These Walls Could Talk.
Arnold has received at least 21 Regional Emmy® Awards, multiple regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, an NATPE Iris Award and 4 Barbara Jordan Awards among other honors.
Arnold is the proud father of two, Pamela & Stephen. And if it’s true that the smallest things take up the most room in your heart, it’s his four grandkids Kyra, Kruze, Olivia and Grant, that he says, fulfills a space that he never knew was empty.
Silver Circle Honoree
Lee Baker
Lee Baker is the longest serving sports anchor in Amarillo and has been in the market for nearly 35 years.
Born and raised in Indiana, Baker joined the U.S. Navy after graduating high school and served in the Vietnam war in the Naval intelligence and communications fields. He continues working with veterans through the Texas Panhandle chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.
After his enlistment was up, Baker graduated from Indiana University. He started working in TV in Farmington, New Mexico – in a market that doesn’t exist anymore.
For more than fifteen years running, Baker has been voted “Favorite Sportscaster” by the community in a survey the local paper puts out, including a spot in that Hall of Fame. This is because of his dedication to the kids in the area – not just to tell their stories in their respective sports, but to tell what they do in the classroom and their communities.
In addition to working every day, Baker quietly volunteers in the community. He’s worked with Kids Inc., a local sports organization for children and the Lions Club to serve the viewers in a different way.
Among his many awards, one of his favorites was being named “Sports Dude” of the year by the Amarillo Gorillas hockey team. He’s also spoken numerous times to GED graduates at the Amarillo prison through their education program.
His wife, Velma, has put up with him for 22 years. He has two daughters and two beautiful granddaughters who are the light of his life.
Silver Circle Honoree
Don Harris
Don Harris is the EMMY® award-winning weekday Sports Anchor and Sports Director for News 4 San Antonio. He celebrates 28 years with the station.
Don was most recently honored with three Associated Press awards in 2017. He was singled out for his best commentary, best sports special and sportscast. He is a multiple EMMY® winner and nominee for his sports anchoring, storytelling and commentaries. He has won numerous awards from the Texas A.P. Broadcasters for best sportscast and best sports story. The News 4 San Antonio Sports department was also honored in the TV Special category for their “Race For The Rings” Spurs Specials. He has been honored numerous times by the Texas A.P. Broadcasters for Best Editorial/Commentary for his “Don’s Extra Point.”
He also serves as the TV play by play voice of UTSA Football and “Thursday Night Lights,” a local live high school football broadcast.
Harris is actively involved in the San Antonio community. He is a recipient of the prestigious Edna McGaffey Media Excellence Award by the San Antonio Express-News and the local chapter of American Women in Communications for his work on the air and in the community.
In 1998 Harris started the Don Harris Golf Classic, a golf tournament benefiting the Arthritis Foundation and The Family Service Association. Many top local sports celebrities have taken part helping to raise over a million dollars for local children. The tournament has grown into the “Don Harris/Harvey Najim Golf Tournament for Kids” and raised over a million dollars over the years for the San Antonio Family Service Association, The Autism Treatment Center, S.A. Youth and the First Tee Of San Antonio. Harris also serves on the board of the Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation and San Antonio Sports. Both are actively involved in improving the lives of children in San Antonio.
Harris works closely with two other local charities. He is on the advisory board of the Miracle League of San Antonio and of Slam Dunk for Life.
Harris has covered many major sporting events during his 28 years at News 4 San Antonio, including numerous Super Bowls, Final Fours and all five Spurs World Championships. News 4 WOAI’s Race for the Rings (Spurs pregame and postgame shows) were among the highest rated shows in San Antonio television history.
In 2000, Don launched “Sports Sunday” – a unique version of a weekly sports show that climbed to the top of the local ratings.
Harris made broadcasting history when he became the first and only broadcaster to host a live radio sports talk show and anchor a live television sportscast – simultaneously!
He has been named as one of the San Antonio Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty” rising stars in the local community, and was named “Best Talk Radio host” by the San Antonio Current readers’ poll.
Harris is married to wife Julie, who, like Don, attended San Antonio’s Churchill High School and the University of North Texas. They have two sons, Landry and Grant.