Verne Lundquist To Be Honored At Sports Emmys

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) today announced that Verne Lundquist, CBS Sports’ lead play-by- play announcer for college football and broadcaster of more than 20 different sports, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Sports at the 37th annual Sports Emmy Awards ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, May 10.

“Verne Lundquist is one of the most iconic voices in sports television,” said Bob Mauro, NATAS president. “He has delivered some of the most memorable calls, from ‘Yes Sir’ to an ‘Answered Prayer.’ From his days with the Dallas Cowboys, through many a Masters Golf Tournament to Olympic figure-skating competitions not to mention numerous NFL and College football games, Verne’s educated, entertaining and insightful look into the world of sports has been a treat for all viewers. It is with great pleasure that the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honors him with the prestigious Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports.”

Lundquist began his career at KTBC-TV Austin, Texas, 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 Dallas for 16 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 long career at CBS Sports where he continues today as a play-by-play announcer for college football, the NCAA Tournament and golf.

He 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.

Lundquist also is part of CBS Sports’ golf announce team, providing commentary for the Masters and PGA Championship. He joined the broadcast teams for the Masters in 1983 and PGA Championship in 2000, and has called several other PGA Tour events.

Lundquist was the lead play-by-play announcer for figure skating at the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Olympic Winter Games and also had extensive involvement in CBS Sports’ previous coverage of the NBA. Among the 20 different sports he has broadcast for CBS include track and field, swimming and diving, boxing, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, weightlifting, free style skiing, archery, horse racing and horse jumping.

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 was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 2007. In May 2014 Lundquist received the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Broadcasting from Fordham University’s WFUV Radio. In January 2015 he was honored by the Walter Camp Foundation with its Distinguished American Award. Also in 2015, Lundquist and Gary Danielson were honored with the Maxwell Football Club’s Excellence in Broadcasting. And most recently, he received the Charles Ringler Founders Award, given by the Davey O’Brien Foundation in Fort Worth.

Lundquist earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Texas Lutheran University in 1962 and received the school’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.