The 2025 Billy Schrivner Distinguished Service Award is presented to Tom Britt, a 30-year news
anchor and producer at WBBJ-TV in Jackson and a mainstay for four decades (1981-2021) on
the University of Tennessee Martin Skyhawk Sports Network.
Britt also called play-by-play broadcasts of local high school football and basketball games and
the NAIA Women’s National Basketball Tournament for more than 20 years while working at
WDXI-AM radio station.
“I am deeply humbled and grateful to receive this Distinguished Service Award,” Britt said. “This recognition is a true highlight of my time working with and serving on the Hall of Fame Board, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have contributed a little something to an organization that cares about local athletes, coaches and teams.”
The award is named for the late Billy Schrivner – a founder, board member and former
president of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame. His dedication and leadership
provided the basis for what the Hall of Fame has become.
“Billy (Schrivner) served as an inspiration to me,” Britt said. “Billy always showed unwavering
support for high school and college athletics and others involved in sports.
“He was always kind and courteous to others and me, showing encouragement by not only
working for the hall of fame, but for the community as well. I’m humbled, honored and
excited to receive the honor.”
Britt, a native of Beech Bluff in Madison County, worked in media for 52 years and served as
play-by-play announcer for more than 1,000 UTM Skyhawk games.
He became the longest tenured NCAA Division I women’s basketball play-by-play radio
broadcaster in 2019 while ranking among the leaders in football play-by-play announcers in the country at the time. He was inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame in 2017.
Asked for highlights of his radio career in sports broadcasts, he was quick to mention the 1976
triple overtime football game that Jackson Central-Merry lost to Bradley Central, 50-48, in the
Class AAA state championship in Murfreesboro.
JCM was 12-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state. A crowd of nearly 9,000 turned out on Thanksgiving Day.
The game was tied 28-28 at the end of regulation.
The 98 points remained the most points scored in a state title game for 39 years.
“That was just like, ‘Wow,’” Britt said. “And in college I did a lot of great games. But I think the
four Ohio Valley Conference basketball championships the UT Martin women won to advance
to the NCAA tournament were probably the best. The girls would be down and somehow find away to win.”
In his senior year of high school, Britt started hanging around with a friend who was working at a radio station in Selmer. Britt was allowed to voice an ad or two and was hooked on radio once he heard his voice on tape and on air.
He searched for a broadcast school to help him hone his voice skills. Britt had already acted in
high school plays and sang in his high school chorus and at church. He learned about the
Institute of Broadcasting in Nashville, enrolled and graduated one year later.
He returned to Jackson and went to work for AM 1310 WDXI on April 1, 1970. He worked at
WDXI for a few years before taking a position with WTJS 1390 AM and 104.1 FM for one year.
At the time WTJS was owned by The Jackson Sun. He left WTJS and returned to WDXI whose
new ownership had added 103.1 FM WMXX.
Britt was an announcer, program director, sports director – doing high school and college
games – and an on-air personality before switching over to news when automation of stations
began eliminating live DJs. In August 1992 Tom was offered a position in the news department
at WBBJ-TV.
Britt was inducted into the University of Tennessee Martin Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
He is serving as emcee for the ninth time when the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of
Fame Banquet is held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
Tom is married to Sherry Britt. He has one daughter, Amy Britt Hollowell, and two
grandchildren, Callie and Caroline.
For tickets and reservations for the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame event, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.
(PHOTO: Tom Britt)
