Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – University of Alabama broadcaster Chris Stewart will deliver the keynote address during Thompson High School’s commencement ceremony in May.

The THS class of 2024 will hear an address from Stewart at the UAB Bartow Arena in downtown Birmingham on Tuesday, May 21 at 6 p.m.

Stewart has been a broadcaster since 1988 and has been the University of Alabama’s basketball play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide since 2002. Stewart also serves as the newest broadcaster for Alabama football as well after taking over for Eli Gold. Stewart also served as the radio play-by-play announcer for Alabama baseball for 24 seasons.

In addition to his broadcasting roles, Stewart also serves as the television host of “The Nick Saban Show” and “The Nate Oats Show.”

Before his time serving as an announcer at Alabama, Stewart spent eight seasons as the radio announcer for Birmingham-Southern College. He shared the action for two NAIA national championships won by the panthers, including the 1995 men’s basketball title and the 2001 baseball championship.

Stewart also has television broadcast experience, including stints on different broadcast platforms covering high school and college football, basketball, baseball, soccer and volleyball.

Stewart is a Fairfield native and a 1992 graduate of the University of Montevallo. During his time at Montevallo, he worked at WBYE radio station in Calera, wrote for the university’s newspaper and was the sports lead for UM’s TV station. In 2009, Stewart was recognized with UM’s Alumni Achievement Award and became a 2021 inductee into the UM Athletics Hall of Fame.

Stewart has been named the Alabama Sportscaster of the Year six times by the National Sports Media Association.

In addition to his career, Stewart also brings life experience to the commencement ceremony as someone who has survived three significant health scares. Within the span of two years, Stewart survived a stroke, major heart bypass surgery and a coma. Having survived it all, Stewart continues in his role as a broadcaster and father to three children, Anne, Parker and Hudson.

Those interested in learning more about the commencement ceremony at Thompson High School may contact Pam Vickers at pam.vickers@acsboe.org or  call 205-685-6734.