Tom Carnegie

1987

For more than 30 years, Tom Carnegie has had one of WRTV’s most recognizable faces, and for longer yet, the most recognizable voice in sports. As sports director since March of 1953, Carnegie has earned his reputation as one of the most respected sportscasters in the area.

A native of Norwich, Connecticut, Carnegie began his broadcasting career in 1942 at WOWO-Radio in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He continued through an interrupted span of 30 years of radio and TV coverage of Big Ten and Notre Dame football games, was chief announcer of the Indy 500 classic, the 500 Mile Race at Pocono, Pennsylvania and was the chief announcer of Indiana State basketball tournaments.

Tom has produced two major film documentaries on racing and founded the Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers Club.

For his work on behalf of basketball he was chosen as the first recipient of the Coaches Medal Award in 1974. The Indiana Coaches Association honored him in 1971 for his contribution to basketball; the annual award given to worthy high school athletes is known as the “Tom Carnegie” award.

In 1975, Tom was selected by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame to receive the Eckrich Silver Medallion. The award is presented annually to an individual for long-time contribution to basketball. The winner receives a prominent place in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Carnegie founded the Butler University radio station, WAJC-FM.

Among other honors, in 1973, Tom received the Indianapolis Variety Club’s “Celebrity Award,” has been a several-time winner of the “Best Sports Story of the Year” award presented by the Indianapolis Press Club and was named “Man of the Year” by the Antelope Club in 1975.

An active member of the community, he and his wife reside in Zionsville and have three children.