Dave Kitchell

Born and raised in Kokomo, Dave Kitchell began working for the Kokomo Tribune during his high school years. He worked for a newspaper in Bloomington while a student at Indiana University, and later at Peru before returning to the Tribune in 1970 where he worked for 40 years. The last 30 years he served as the sports editor.

Kitchell won numerous awards during his career, including Indiana Sportswriter of the Year in 1992. He was honored with the IHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 1997 and the North Central Conference Distinguished Service Award in 2006. He was named Sports Columnist of the Year in 2001 and 2008 by the Hoosier State Press Association. In addition, he received honors for his columns from The Associated Press and Thomson Newspapers – the latter for a piece while covering the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Kitchell gained induction into the prestigious Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 2008.

The Kokomo High School graduate wrestled for Hall of Fame coach Bob Hamilton for four seasons. He coached baseball, football and basketball youth sports teams and managed a baseball team in the Kokomo Parents Babe Ruth League for 10 seasons. In 1976, he managed a squad that won the league’s first all-star state championship. Kitchell was also a member of the group responsible for bringing the 1985 American Legion Baseball World Series to Kokomo.