The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters announced today that Broadcast Veteran and former voice of the Tennessee Vols, Bob Kesling will be honored with its prestigious “Industry Impact Award for Radio”! Kesling will receive the award at the TAB’s annual Excellence in Broadcasting Awards banquet on August 18th at the Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville.
The Industry Impact Award for Radio recognizes an individual who has been instrumental in making a significant impact on local Radio in Tennessee. Previous recipients include Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn, John Oates, formerly of Hall and Oats, and Sing/Songwriter Whispering Bill Anderson.
“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to honor and celebrate Bob Kesling for his decades of service and contributions to our radio broadcasting industry,” said Chris Baker, President of TAB. “Whether he is delivering a big story, painting mental images of a big game, or raising money for an important cause, he is a tireless professional, a consummate gentleman, and his contributions to radio in Tennessee are enormous. No one embodies this award more
than Bob Kesling!”
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Industry Impact Award from TAB,” said Kesling. “I got my start working in local radio at WIVK and then moved on to WBIR. I learned how to be a broadcaster in those days. More importantly I learned how valuable and essential local broadcasting is to a community. That is still true today.”
About Bob Kesling:
Bob Kesling, the longtime Voice of the Tennessee Volunteers, has been a cornerstone of UT Athletics broadcasting for over 50 years. A 1977 University of Tennessee graduate and former walk-on football player, Kesling began his broadcasting career as a student working with legendary announcer John Ward.
From 1978 to 1999, he was the play-by-play voice for Lady Vols basketball, calling six national championships under Pat Summitt. He also spent nearly two decades as Sports Director at Knoxville’s WBIR-TV before being named Director of Broadcasting and lead announcer for the Vol Network in 1999.
Over 26 seasons, Kesling called Tennessee football and men’s basketball games on a statewide radio network and hosted shows including Vol Calls, the Josh Heupel Show, and the Rick Barnes Show. He was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2024 and retired after the 2024–25 basketball season.
Kesling is a four-time Tennessee Sportscaster of the Year and has been a dedicated community leader, serving organizations like United Way and the Boys & Girls Clubs. He and his wife Tami reside in Knoxville and have two daughters.
About The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters:
The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters is a non-profit trade association serving local radio and television stations across the state of Tennessee. For over 75 years, the TAB has been dedicated to serving Tennessee broadcasters and recognizing their commitment to entertaining, informing, and protecting their local communities. For more information about the Excellence in Broadcasting Awards, visit tabtn.org.
