RICHARDSON, Texas –– Randy Benson, sports editor of The Town Talk in Alexandria, La., has been named the recipient of the American Southwest Conference Outstanding Media Service Award by the conference and its sports information directors. Benson is the fourth recipient of the award – and first since 2005 – that celebrates outstanding media coverage of an ASC school and NCAA Division III athletics.

Benson was formally honored by the conference and Louisiana College before the Wildcats’ basketball game against Hardin-Simmons on Saturday (Dec. 15).

“Randy has done a tremendous job since becoming the sports editor at The Town Talk,” said LC athletic director Tim Whitman (pictured right presenting a commemorative plaque to Benson). “He has made covering Louisiana College a priority. His enthusiasm for collegiate sports, namely Division III sports, shows in his work. With Randy as the sports editor, Louisiana College receives the best print media coverage in the American Southwest Conference.”

Benson’s background plays a key role in his interest for collegiate athletics, namely NCAA Division III athletics. Benson is a graduate of Ball State University in Indiana. His first job came at the Muncie Star in Muncie, Ind., but it was his second job in Marietta, Ohio that introduced him to NCAA Division III athletics. In Marietta, Benson covered Division III school Marietta College.

During his career, Benson has covered four NCAA Division III schools, including Louisiana College. Benson has also covered Elmira College in New York and Hope College in Holland, Mich.

During Benson’s tenure at The Town Talk, Louisiana College coverage has been constant and thorough. Always covering all angles of a story, Benson writes player features, game previews, game summaries, and makes assignments for other writers at The Town Talk pertaining to LC athletics.

“Randy has been great to work with,” LC sports information director Alex Goodling said. “He takes a genuine interest in Louisiana College athletics and athletes. Other than what goes along with covering games, Randy is always looking for feature stories and does a tremendous amount to promote LC and Division III athletics. He did a great job covering the softball regional that we hosted, making sure there were reporters and photographers at every game. He also not only got the regional stories on the front page of the sports section, but the front page of the paper.”

Benson has been the sports editor at The Town Talk since May of 2006.

Charlie Chitwood of Chitwood Sports Media (East Texas Baptist University) took the inaugural ASC media honor in 2003, followed by Abilene, Texas, journalist Al Pickett (Hardin-Simmons University) in 2004 and voice of Howard Payne University Dallas Huston in 2005.

-Courtesy Louisiana College Sports Information Department