Media

Joe Browning

Year Inducted: 1991

Category: Media

Schools / Organizations: 
WFRX
WJPF
Benton Evening News

Biography:  Joe R. Browning is believed to be the first Illinois broadcaster to introduce sports double-headers. As a manager at WJPF Radio in Herrin, Browning followed live-game broadcasts with tape-delayed games to give listeners an opportunity of hearing two games in one night. Browning was one of the first in southern Illinois to utilize taped game segments into daily sports reports. He was the only sports announcer to travel with the 1972 USA Olympic basketball team. For 16 seasons he broadcast Benton Rangers games starting in 1961. He has fond memories of broadcasting two undefeated Benton regular seasons. Browning was the first Voice of the Rangers on WFRX in West Frankfort before moving to WJPF. His daily 7:20 a.m. broadcasts reported high school sports news and included live reports from coaches and tape excerpts from games. Browning moved from sports broadcasting to the print media when he became the publisher of the Benton Evening News where he devoted plenty of space to high school sports.