Arkansas State University

Keith Merritt - Former Voice of the Indians

Keith Merritt of Jonesboro was football “Voice of the Indians” from 1983-1991 after a year as color analyst. He was basketball play-by-play broadcaster from 1981 to 1991. He later was play-by-play broadcaster for A-State women’s basketball from 2016-2021.

His work included A-State’s 1980s appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA national football playoffs and the national championship game in Tacoma, Wash., in 1986.

Keith Merritt on the call for the 61-60 victory at Memphis - December 20, 1986

Merritt’s work is remembered for his trademark “Bottom!” calls when A-State scored in basketball games. He called historic games such as the 61-60 upset at Memphis in 1986, the 60-59 upset at Stanford in the 1988 National Invitation Tournament and the NIT thriller against Arkansas in 1987.

He received “Best Play-by-Play Award” from the Associated Press in 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, the “Best Play-by-Play Award” from United Press International in 1990, and UPI’s “Feature Aware” in 1985 and 1988.

He was also sports director and later fundraiser for KASU radio from 1981-2001. He has continued radio broadcast work on WDRZ 95.3 “The Ticket” in Jonesboro and is the radio play-by-play announcer for Brookland High School boys’ and girls’ basketball games.

He is a 1975 graduate of the University of Missouri and a native of Mehlville, Mo. 

He and his wife, Rosemary Hughes, have a son, Justin.