May 5, 2008

Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Chris Stewart, veteran play-by-play voice of University of Alabama basketball and baseball, has been named the state's top sportscaster for 2007 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA). Stewart received his award from the organization this past weekend (May 3-4) at the NSSA and Hall of Fame's 49th Annual Awards Program in Salisbury, N.C.

This is the second time Stewart has earned the honor from the NSSA, having previously been named Alabama's Sportscaster of the Year in 2004. Currently in his 20th year in broadcasting, Stewart recently concluded his sixth season as the University of Alabama men's basketball play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide Sports Network. In addition to his role as the voice of Crimson Tide basketball, Stewart is also the lead announcer for Alabama baseball.

During the college football season, the Fairfield native handles television play-by-play duties for Alabama's pay-per-view and delayed broadcasts on CSS. He also hosts CTSN's pre-game and post-game radio shows. Stewart also worked eight seasons as the play-by-play announcer for Birmingham-Southern College.

Stewart joins several other notable honorees to be feted at this weekend's event, joining Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play announcer Vin Scully (California), Cincinnati Reds play-by-play voice Marty Brenneman (Ohio), veteran play-by-play man of the Dallas Cowboys, Brad Sham (Texas), Gene Deckerhoff (Florida State ISP Sports Network/Florida) and Wes Durham (Georgia Tech ISP Sports Network/Georgia).

A 1992 graduate of the University of Montevallo, Stewart is married to the former Christy Carmichael, and is the father of two children, Anne and Parker.

-UA-