Congratulations to TAB’s 2026 Leadership Award Winners

- Leadership, Station Awards to be Presented in August

Texas broadcasters are coming together at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock Aug. 5-6 in part to honor some of the industry's most accomplished leaders, rising stars and Radio and TV stations at the Awards Gala on closing night of the 2026 TAB Show.

Capping a two-day conference focused on utilizing today's cutting edge technologies to power the industry's future and super-serve its advertising partners, the Awards Gala is slated to be Texas broadcasting's biggest celebration of the year.

Registration and the Hotel Room block are now open - BOOK TODAY!

Lifetime Achievement Award - Ben Downs, Bryan Broadcasting

Former (two time) TAB Chairman Ben Downs

Pioneer Broadcaster of the Year - Jan Fritz. Hill Country Broadcasting

Jan Fritz is the Owner/Operator of H. C. Broadcasting, LLC dba The "Texas Rebel Radio" group. KFAN FM 107.9 (streaming), KNAF AM 910 (streaming), KNAF FM 105.7, and KEEP FM 103.1

Jan began her career in radio at just 17 years old with KNAF, launching what would become a lifelong passion for broadcasting and community engagement. After college, she and her husband, Jayson, returned to Fredericksburg, where they joined HC Broadcasting. Jan worked both on-air and in sales, eventually becoming the general sales manager, while Jayson served as the station manager. KFAN's format was different from anything out there at the time. The idea of "Texas Rebel Radio" was variety, with a decidedly Texas twist. During any given hour, listeners would hear country, blues, rock, zydeco, ballads, current, and classic music...all blended together.

Jan was named one of the "Marketing 100" from "Advertising Age" magazine for her promotion of "Texas Rebel Radio", and was chosen to author an article in their publication.KFAN has had a huge impact locally as well, bringing Texas talent to the area for live studio sessions, adding notoriety to Luckenbach and the Kerrville Folk Festival, with live on-stage remotes…and then there's the streaming from a small Texas town that most outside the area had never heard of. Few have had so much impact on "The Texas Hill Country."Jayson and Jan Fritz's contributions to, and love for, Texas music and their community will echo through time, and the city of Fredericksburg owes a huge debt of gratitude to these forward thinkers. Their willingness to risk being "a little different" has paid dividends to the Texas Hill Country, the City of Fredericksburg, and the Texas Radio industry, not to mention giving a leg up to numerous Texas musicians.

Radio Broadcaster of the Year - Paul Gleiser, ATW Media Tyler-Longview

The criteria for this award is described as follows: "…an individual who has made a commitment to excellence over the past 12 months and is an example to others in broadcasting."

No one works at Paul Gleiser's stations for long before recognizing that he is the very embodiment of that statement. His commitment to excellence comes from his very core and from a lifelong love for Radio. He is truly passionate about it. Paul sets very high standards for what goes on the air, how the stations serve their listeners, the East Texas community and their advertisers.

He expects the very highest level of on-air execution - especially when it comes to news coverage. Paul knows that news coverage must be accurate and fair. And that commitment was recognized earlier this year at the Texas Broadcast News Awards with Paul's stations being named Texas Other Market Station of the Year.

Beyond that, Paul is passionate about bringing fresh faces to the Radio industry. Two of their very best fulltime news anchors came to the stations via the internship program that theyoffer to area college students.

He has served several terms on the TAB Board of Directors - including serving as Chairman in

Television Broadcaster of the Year - Ward Huey, Nexstar Media Tyler-Longview

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George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence - Steve Hasskamp, ROCK TEX

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Jason Hightower Award for Broadcast Excellence - Rusty Surette, KBTX-TV Bryan College Station

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Associate of the Year - Harry Friedman, Ross Video

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Educator of the Year - Phyllis Slocum, Univ. of North Texas

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