[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5530-S5531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO CHUCK MRAZ

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for more than 30 years, Chuck Mraz 
served communities in Eastern Kentucky as the ``Voice of the Eagles'' 
for Morehead State University athletics at Morehead State Public Radio. 
During his long career, from which he retired 4 years ago, he earned 
accolades from around the Commonwealth and region. This year, he 
received another distinction and was one of several broadcast 
journalists inducted into the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Hall of 
Fame. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Chuck for his 
service and congratulating him on achieving this high honor.
  Chuck knew he wanted to be a sportscaster from the beginning of his 
career, noting in an interview that sports had always been a part of 
his life since he could pick up a bat and a ball. When he joined 
Morehead State Public Radio in 1986, he relished the opportunity to 
give commentary during Morehead State games. Even as his role at the 
radio station expanded, he stayed on as the voice of Eagles athletics 
and continues to serve as the play-by-play voice of Morehead State 
football and men's basketball in his retirement.
  I had the opportunity to join Chuck's program a number of times over 
the years, enjoying our conversations that ranged from the important 
policy issues facing Kentuckians to our shared passion for Kentucky 
sports. His dedication to his career required many early mornings and 
late nights, but he never wavered from his love for Morehead State 
sports, staying dedicated to his beloved Eagles throughout his career.
  Chuck's most recent recognition from the Kentucky Broadcasters 
Association is just one more award in a long list of honors he has 
received from local, State, and regional press associations. That 
includes more than 40 Kentucky Associated Press awards, the Eastern 
Kentucky Leadership Conference Award for Media and Technology, and the 
Ohio Valley Conference Media Award. Upon his retirement, Chuck also 
earned tributes and accolades from around Kentucky and the country.
  I thank Chuck for his long career with Morehead State and 
congratulate him on his well-deserved induction into the Kentucky 
Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. To all Kentuckians and Morehead 
State fans, he will always be the ``Voice of the Eagles.''
  Morehead State paid tribute to Chuck Mraz in a recent article. I ask 
unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [From Morehead State University, Aug. 11, 2022]

 ``Voice of the Eagles Chuck Mraz Set to be Inducted Into KBA Hall of 
                                 Fame''

       Longtime Morehead State Public Radio news director, and 
     voice of Morehead State football and men's basketball Chuck 
     Mraz has been chosen by The Kentucky Broadcaster's 
     Association as a 2022 recipient of the Kentucky Mic award.
       The Kentucky Mic is presented to individuals who have made 
     outstanding personal contributions to the broadcasting 
     profession in Kentucky. Since this award is considered to be 
     the highest given by the KBA, recipients are immediately 
     inducted into the KBA Hall of Fame.
       Mraz is a 1978 graduate of Southern Illinois University-
     Carbondale, where he was a reporter with WSIU-FM, WSIU-TV, 
     WIDB Radio, and did two years play by play and color for SIU 
     football and men's basketball.
       Between 1978 to 1986, he held various on air and sales 
     positions at WKRS (Waukegan, Illinois), WHCO (Sparta, 
     Illinois), WKZN (Zion, Illinois) and WXAN (Ava, Illinois).
       In 1986, Mraz joined the Morehead State Public Radio news 
     and sports team, spending 23 years as assistant news director 
     and news director and 17 years as host of ``The Front Page'' 
     talk show. Before retiring from WMKY in 2018, he had trained 
     more than 600 news student interns.
       Although he has retired from full time broadcast duties, he 
     remains the play by play voice of MSU football and men's 
     basketball, a seat he has filled for 35 years. Since 2014, he 
     has been a big part of the KHSAA Girls' ``Sweet 16'' radio 
     network.
       Prior to receiving the KBA Kentucky Mic Award, he received 
     more than 40 other broadcast awards Including ``Best 
     Sportscast'',

[[Page S5531]]

     ``Best Newscast'' ``Best Radio Anchor'', and ``Best Play by 
     Play'' from the Associated Press, the 2016 East Kentucky 
     Leadership Foundation's Media and Technology award and the 
     2016-17 Ohio Valley Conference Media Award.
       In addition to Mraz, the 2022 KBA Hall of Fame class 
     includes WKYT-TV sports anchor Dave Baker and WAVE-TV 
     meteorologist Dave Belski. All of the 2022 Legacy Awards 
     recipients will be celebrated during ``An Evening of 
     Broadcast Excellence'', Monday September 26th at the KBA's 
     Annual Conference in Owensboro.

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