Alumnus wins broadcasting award

  Friday, May 3, 2013 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Anyone who listens to KKOW radio broadcasts of Pittsburg State University athletics knows just how passionate Eddie Lomshek is about the Gorillas.

Lomshek, the station’s sports director and a 1999 PSU grad, admits that he gets emotional during the Gorillas’ games because of his love for the university.

But he also gets emotional for another reason: he loves what he does. For that devotion and commitment to the field of broadcasting, Lomshek was named the 2013 recipient of the Hod Humiston Award.

The award is given annually to a Kansas broadcaster who has made significant contributions to the field of sports broadcasting. It is named for Hod Humiston, who became the state’s first television sportscaster when he did play-by-play coverage of college games for KTVH in Wichita.

Lomshek was recognized on May 1 at the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Sports Seminar in Kansas City.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be among the outstanding broadcasters who have won this award,” he said. “It’s great for me personally, but this is also a team award. What I do every day wouldn’t be possible without the people I work with, many of whom aren’t heard or seen. They are just as important to making the broadcast what it is.”

Lomshek began working part time at KKOW just before the 1996 football season. In 1998, he began working on air with Pitt State basketball. He graduated from Pitt State in 1999 and was hired full time by KKOW as the assistant sports director. He became sports director in 2004.

Lomshek said his career wouldn’t be what it is without the support of his family, especially his wife, Amy.

“When sports seasons get rolling, I’m gone from home quite a bit,” he said. “My wife is incredibly understanding and supportive of that. My career wouldn’t be possible without her being willing to accept that I’m going to be an absentee husband at certain times during the year.”

As for calling games at his alma mater, Lomshek said he can’t help but show his excitement and support for the Gorillas.

“There is a lot of emotion, and I’m sure that comes through in the broadcasts,” he said. “I know how important the Gorillas are to this community. I know how important athletics are to this community. It’s an honor to get to call their games, and it’s a lot of fun.”