Class of 2006
Dunnavant began his career in radio as a teenager in the late 1930's. He organized Athens' first radio broadcast in 1940 while a student at Elkmont High School. Dunnavant and his father Homer later founded the WJMW radio station in 1948. It was here that he broadcast every con- ceivable local event from county fairs to Christmas parades.
Dunnavant was the voice of local sports in 1948 when he began broadcasting Athens High School football games. Since WJMW was a day-time only radio station, he would tape the Golden Eagles games on Friday nights and air them on Saturday morning.
In 1956 Dunnavant founded Alabama's first state news network and hosted the Contact Alabama Program, which attracted listeners from Ath- ens to Dothan. He founded WJOF-FM in 1958 and built the station into the area?s first successful FM station. Here he would broadcast as many as 300 games per year, including Alabama and Auburn football mixed in with comprehensive coverage of all the local teams. He served as the voice of Athens High School football for more than 20 years, and broadcast games during the tenure of Golden Eagle greats such as Hal Self, Oliver Woodard, Furman Elmore and Larry McCoy.
The Limestone County broadcaster also served as the voice of Athens College basketball during the days when Coach Oba Belcher's program was a small college powerhouse.
He retired from play-by-play duties in the early 1970's, but still hosted the Tennessee Valley Scoreboard wrap-up show on WJOF, which provided scores and reports from the area's top high school football games.
WJMW RADIO AND WJOF-FM
Dunnavant and his father Homer founded WJMW radio station in 1948. Founded WJOF-FM in 1958.
He served as the voice of Athens High School football for more than 20 years, and broadcast games during the tenure of Golden Eagle greats such as Hal Self, Oliver Woodard, Furman Elmore and Larry McCoy.