Friday night’s homecoming win for the Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School Tigers was a worthy period to put at the end of a legendary career for one of West Tennessee’s most well-known (and loved) radio sports broadcasters.
The Voice of the Tigers on WRJB 95.9 FM for the past 34 years, Hollow Rock native Buddy Smothers delivered his final broadcast Friday night from the press box at Joe T. Herndon Stadium.
Smothers was recently diagnosed with liver cancer, and he is starting chemotherapy this week.
According to Smothers, hanging up his microphone isn’t exactly something he wants to do, but he’s not sure he would be up to doing his weekly broadcasts while undergoing chemo. And with the added risk presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said being around crowds of people probably isn’t a good idea at this time.
But covering Tiger football through the years has been an honor and a privilege Smothers says he will always treasure.
“For me it has been about being in the flow of the game,” he said. “I like getting into the analytical side of things – watching the contest unfold and seeing the chess match of each game.”
Smothers got his start as a radio broadcaster back in 1987 as part of a team alongside Flash Melton covering both Central and Camden football.
And while his broadcast career has included countless memorable experiences, Smothers pointed to Central’s 1989 state championship win over Donaldson Christian as one of his favorites.
As he recalled, that game was played on a field covered with ice after a two-hour delay due to bad weather.
Smothers was also there in the press box when Central suffered state losses to Trousdale County in 1990 and Battleground Academy in 1995.
A 1970 CHS graduate, Smothers taught and coached various sports at Central from 1976 until his retirement in 2007 – which has given him a very personal connection with Central athletics.
Smothers said he also feels a special connection with Tiger fans and all his radio listeners.
“It has been great getting to know the fans,” he said. “And you never know who’s listening to you. It’s really amazing.”
In addition to Tiger football, Smothers has been covering District 11A basketball for WRJB since 1995 all the way through the sub-state round each season.
He has also served as a sports writer and columnist for the Carroll County News-Leader for the past several years, writing up Central football games, as well as his weekly column, The Courtside Report, during basketball season.
Smothers said he owes a lot to his wife, Joyce, who has been serving as his broadcast partner, statistician, technical engineer, nighttime driver, and personal writing editor since they got married in 1991.
Smothers’ seat in the press box, however, will not remain empty as Henry County resident Dylan Powley is taking over the spot for WRJB.
The son of well-known radio personality Gary Powley, Dylan has been doing on-air work with Buddy and Joyce for the past year or so.
“He’ll do a good job,” said Smothers.
