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Dick Palmer, the longtime MTSU athletics broadcaster, will receive a lifetime achievement award from the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame during its 7th Annual Gala on May 5. Erik Bacharach/DNJ

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Dick Palmer, the radio voice of the MTSU women’s basketball team, had no idea what was in store for him Monday when he hosted his weekly coach’s show with Rick Insell at Sam's Sports Grill in the Stones River Mall.

"But when Pete Weber came in," Palmer said, "I knew something was up."

The voice of the Nashville Predators and a Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer, Weber came bearing a surprise message for Palmer, one that he shared on the air.

“I want to know what you have planned for Saturday, May 5th,” Weber said.

Palmer thought about it for a moment. “I expect I’ve got a baseball broadcast, perhaps.”

“Well somewhere nearby,” Weber said, “I think we’re going to do something else for you.”

Then Weber broke the news: On May 5, Palmer will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the seventh annual Gala of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. The event will take place at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro and begin at 5 p.m.

"It was a shock to me," said Palmer, 79, "and I don't think I've recovered yet.

"It's always nice to be appreciated for what you do, especially by your peers because it was broadcasters who voted on it. They've been where I am. They've done what I've done. They know you've got to put in the time, put in the work."

Palmer has put in the time, all right — 53 years, to be exact.

A 1960 graduate of MTSU, Palmer is in his 36th season of calling play-by-play action of MTSU basketball. He's in his 12th year calling baseball. In 2005, his 25-year run of calling Blue Raider football came to an end.

"The first thing about Dick Palmer is he is extremely honest," said Boots Donnelly, who coached the MTSU football team from 1979-1998. "He stays in the background. He doesn't try to get out in front with his calls. He makes the call as he sees it and he is very, very fair. He just did his job, and he did it exceptionally well.

"Dick was a very good friend of mine for 20-something years when he called our games. I'm extremely grateful to him."

Palmer's career also has included stints as the voice of the Memphis Blues Class AA baseball team, the Memphis Pros (later the Tams) in the American Basketball Association, and the Memphis Grizzlies in the World Football League. He co-hosted the first sports call-in show in Nashville during the mid-70s, was the studio host for Vol Network Football broadcasts for five years, and has called the TSSAA basketball state tournament on the Tennessee Sports Radio Network every year since 1982.

"I've even done junior high games," Palmer said.

In short, Palmer has pretty much done all there is to do when it comes to broadcasting in Tennessee. But on Monday, after learning of Weber's surprise, even the old pro was a bit rattled.

“I’m flabbergasted, coach,” Palmer said to Insell as the two tried to get back to talking Lady Raider basketball.

“Well, you shouldn’t be,” Insell said. “It’s well deserved.”

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