Tyler Morning Telegraph Sports Editor Phil Hicks and DBU broadcaster Reagan Ratcliff claimed the 2026 LSC media awards, it was announced July 23 at LSC Football Media Day at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
Hicks and Ratcliff were honored by the conference for the first time. Hicks earned the Kirk Hill Award as the league’s most outstanding sportswriter, while Ratcliff captured the Jake Trussell Award as the league's top broadcaster.
The awards recognize individuals who best promote the LSC and its members through their work in the media and are selected annually by the LSC sports information directors. The Kirk Hill Award is named in honor of the late Kirk Hill of the Houston Post. Hill won the conference’s first sportswriter award in 1963. The Jake Trussell Award – presented since 1971 – is named in honor of the late Jake Trussell, who broadcast contests for Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Hicks has provided coverage of UT Tyler athletics for more than 20 years through his work with the Tyler Morning Telegraph. He has been covering the LSC ever since UT Tyler began its transition to NCAA Division II in 2018. Hicks has consistently highlighted student-athlete achievements, including an NCAA Woman of the Year award recipient, coaching milestones, conference championships and national championships (softball in 2024 and 2025). He serves as a trusted voice for collegiate athletics in the East Texas area. Hicks has also been a consistent voter on preseason polls for numerous LSC sports. In 2026, Hicks provided extensive coverage of the LSC Baseball Championship and NCAA Division II South Central Baseball Regional, which were hosted by UT Tyler. His writing has significantly increased the visibility of UT Tyler athletics, the LSC and NCAA Division II throughout the region.
Ratcliff has been one of the most respected broadcasters in the LSC since DBU joined the league in 2019. He is always well-prepared and offers insightful, pertinent commentary during play-by-play action with unique stories of each team, individual players and coaches. No matter which sport he is covering, Ratcliff brings excellence to each broadcast by making the viewers at home feel as if they are watching a game with one of their friends. In addition, the friendly voice everyone hears is the same person off the air. Ratcliff has the reputation of being a pleasure to work with and be around. He has also served as the instutution's sports information lead since 2013 and is an adjunct professor for Media Announcing and Kinesiology. During the 2025-26 academic year, Ratcliff was the play-by-play voice of the LSC Women’s Soccer Tournament on FloCollege and NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball South Central Regional on NCAA.com.
ALL-TIME LSC MEDIA AWARD WINNERS
KIRK HILL AWARD (Sportswriter of the Year – since 1963)
2026 Phil Hicks, Tyler Morning Telegraph
2025 Nick Eatman, LSC Correspondent
2024 Cory Hogue, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
2023 Cory Hogue, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
2022 Fred Nuesch, Javelina Highlights, Texas A&M-Kingsville
2021 Tanner Spearman, The Edmond Way
2020 Cory Hogue, Dave Campbell's Texas Football
2019 Kale Steed, Amarillo Globe-News
2018 Kale Steed, Amarillo Globe-News
2017 J. Scott Russell, Wichita Falls Times Record News
2016 Kale Steed, Amarillo Globe-News
2015 Kale Steed, Amarillo Globe-News
2014 Brad Keith, Stephenville Empire-Tribune
2013 Nick Gholson, Wichita Falls Times Record News
2012 David Flores, San Antonio KENS5.com
2011 Nick Gholson, Wichita Falls Times Record News
2010 Nick Eatman, LSC Correspondent
2009 Troy Phillips, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
2008 Bob Hersom, Daily Oklahoman
Herb Jacobs, Lawton Constitution
Greg Jaklewicz, Amarillo Globe News
2007 Jeremy Heath, Amarillo Globe News
2006 J. Scott Russell, Wichita Falls Times Record News
2005 Bob Colon, The Daily Oklahoman
2004 Marjorie Lewis, Dallas Morning News
2003 J. Scott Russell, Wichita Falls Times Record News
2002 Herb Jacobs, Lawton Constitution
2001 Nathan Sanders, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
2000 Wayne Bunch, Tulsa World
1999 Nick Gholson, Wichita Falls Times Record News
1998 J. Scott Russell, Wichita Falls Times Record News
1997 Galen Wellnicki, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
1996 Galen Wellnicki, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
1995 Galen Wellnicki, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
1994 Bill Hart, Abilene Reporter-News
1993 Mike Lee, San Angelo Standard Times
1992 Marjorie Lewis, Dallas Morning News
1991 Mike Lee, San Angelo Standard Times
1990 Mike Lee, San Angelo Standard Times
1989 Lance Lahnert, Amarillo Globe
1988 Mike Lee, San Angelo Standard Times
1987 Mike Lee, San Angelo Standard Times
1986 Scot Stinnett, Portales News-Tribune
1985 Ken Brazzle, Abilene Reporter-News
1984 David Claybourn, Greenville Herald-Banner
1983 Bill Hart, Abilene Reporter-News
1982 Melanie Hauser, Austin American Statesman
David Flores, San Antonio Express-News
1981 Clifford Broyles, San Antonio Express-News
1980 Robert Vernon, Abilene Reporter-News
1979 Curtis Schmidt, Huntsville Item
1978 Frank Rudnicki, San Angelo Standard Times
1977 Clifford Broyles, San Antonio Express-News
1976 Bill Hart, Abilene Reporter-News
1975 Clifford Broyles, San Antonio Express-News
1974 Harry Gage, Dallas Times Herald
1973 Lanny Cravy, San Marcos Record
1972 Emil Tagliabue, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
1971 Verle Engerth, Abilene Reporter-News
1970 George White, Houston Chronicle
1969 Tommy Anderson, Austin American-Statesman
1968 Jim McLain, Shreveport Times
1967 Bill Stovall, Brownwood Bulletin
1966 Jake Trussell, Kingsville Record
1965 Harless Wade, Dallas Morning News
1964 Mike Wester, Abilene Reporter-News
1963 Kirk Hill, Houston Post
JAKE TRUSSELL AWARD (Broadcaster of the Year – since 1971)
2026 Reagan Ratcliff, DBU Athletics
2025 Lucas Kinsey, West Texas A&M Athletics
2024 Pete Stein, Midwestern State Athletics
2023 Pete Stein, Midwestern State Athletics
2022 Donald “Doc” Elder, ENMU Athletics/Radio
Lucas Kinsey, West Texas A&M Athletics
2021 Rylan Stiles, Cameron Athletics
2020 Andrew Bern, Midwestern State Athletics
2019 Jeremy Bryant, Foster Communications, San Angelo
2018 Charlie Chitwood, Lion Sports Network/KETR, Commerce
2017 Jeremy Bryant, Foster Communications, San Angelo
2016 Jeremy Bryant, Foster Communications, San Angelo
2015 Jeremy Bryant, Foster Communications, San Angelo
2014 Casey Hogan, TSU Athletics, Stephenville
2013 Grant Boone, ACU Athletics, Abilene
2012 Donald “Doc” Elder, ENMU Radio, Portales, N.M.
2011 Bill Huddleston, NSU Radio, Tahlequah, Okla.
2010 Bill Powers, KWFB BOB-FM, Wichita Falls
2009 Randy Ward, KSAN-TV, San Angelo
2008 Jeremy Bryant, Foster Communications, San Angelo
2007 Andy Austin, KWFB-FM/KAUZ-TV, Wichita Falls
2006 Jeremy Bryant, KIXY-KKSA, San Angelo
2005 Ron Newsome, KCUB, Stephenville
2004 David Bacon, KTAB, Abilene
2003 Chuck Edwards, KWEY, Weatherford, Okla.
2002 Scott Garner, KETR, Commerce
2001 Doug Smith, KIXY-KKSA, San Angelo
2000 Andy Austin, KAUZ, Wichita Falls
1999 Phil Woodall, Buffalo Sports Network
1998 Phil Woodall, Buffalo Sports Network
1997 Phil Woodall, Buffalo Sports Network
1996 Bill Crawford, KCUB, Stephenville
1995 Randy Lee, KXQZ, San Angelo
1994 Randy Lee, KXQZ, San Angelo
1993 Jim Boles, KSEL, Portales, N.M.
1992 John Hendry, KETR, Commerce
1991 John Hendry, KAYJ, San Angelo
1990 John Hendry, KAYJ, San Angelo
1989 Bill Powers, KETR, Commerce
1988 John Gentry, KCLV, Portales, N.M.
1987 Dallas Huston, KPSM, Brownwood
1986 Dallas Huston, KPSM, Brownwood
1985 Dallas Huston, KPSM, Brownwood
1984 Dave McKay, KGKL, San Angelo
1983 Kooter Robertson, KSAM, Huntsville
1982 Robert Hill, KJCS, Nacogdoches
1981 John Mark Dempsey, KETR, Commerce
Dean Belcher, KETR, Commerce
1980 Bill Bourland, KTAB-TV, Abilene
1979 Randy Zeis, KCTV-TV, San Angelo
1978 Robert Hill, KEEE-KJCS, Nacogdoches
1977 Bob Wood, KGKL, San Angelo
1976 Phil Wayne Ebensberger, KETR, Commerce
1975 Ron Edwards, KSAM, Huntsville
1974 Andy Cook, KINE-KPUP, Kingsville
1973 Dave Martin, KNIT, Abilene
1972 Bill Rust, KGVL, Greenville
1971 Dallas Huston, KBWD, Brownwood
