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, will receive the 2025 Billy Schrivner Distinguished Award when the Jackson-Madaison County Sports Hall of Fame is held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 10 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
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.
“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.
Josh Aldridge, Paula Fuller, Bo Hardegree, Jake Overbey and Tony Shutes become the 39th class to be inducted, and Glenn Jacobs, also known by his ring name ‘Kane,’ a former professional wrestler and currently the Mayor of Knox County, TN, will be the guest speaker.
A native of Beech Bluff, Tom Britt – who worked in media for 52 years – served as play-by-play announcer for over 1,000 UTM Skyhawk games.
He would become the longest tenured NCAA Division I women’s basketball play-by-play radio broadcaster in 2019 while ranking amongst 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 2016.
In his senior year of high school, he started hanging around with a friend who was working at a radio station in Selmer. Tom was allowed to voice an ad or two and once he heard his voice on tape and on air – he was hooked.
He searched for a broadcast school to help him hone his voice skills. Britt had already done some plays and sang in his high school chorus and at church. He found the Tennessee Institute of Broadcasting in Nashville, enrolled and graduated a year later.
He returned to Jackson and went to work for AM 1310 WDXI on April 1, 1970.
Britt 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.
Tom, who was inducted into the University of Tennessee Martin Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024, will emcee his ninth Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame in April.
For tickets and reservations for the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame event, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.
(PHOTO: Tom Britt)
