Inductees

In 1983, Joe Gripka needed a broadcasting partner to help him call Monett High School football games. He asked David Beckett if he’d like to come aboard as a color analyst.

Forty-two years later, Beckett is still at it, calling Monett football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer for radio and internet broadcasts.

Beckett has engrained himself into the sports fabric of Monett and southwest Missouri, and for that, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted him into the Class of 2025.

He has worked primarily with play-by-play broadcasters Mike McClure (MSHOF 2023), Don West (MSHOF 2020), Scott McCauley (MSHOF 2020), Perry Phillips and Gripka.

Beckett’s tenure has included four state championships (1999 Aurora football, 2016 Monett football, 2017 Aurora baseball, 2017 Monett softball), as well as eight Final Four teams in girls basketball, boys soccer, volleyball and softball.

Beckett also worked as a color analyst for nearly 20 years at the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament at College of the Ozarks.

“I feel very humbled to be nominated for this honor,” Becket said. “I know true professionals who do a tremendous job, and I learn from them.”

Get Beckett to start talking about his broadcasting experience, and he’ll immediately start singing the praises of Monett High School and the community.

“I am a Monett Cub,” he said. “Once a Cub, always a Cub. It’s always been important for me to support the school system.”

Beckett played sports in high school and also served 13 years as a member of the Monett R-1 School board, serving as president for several years.

He knows what it feels like to get the recognition you deserve for your efforts. Not every school and community has that ability.

“I’ve always tried very hard to get all of the students recognized and give them that special recognition in a positive way,” Beckett said. “They deserve to be honored and recognized for their efforts. It’s not about the broadcasters, it’s about the athletes.”

Beckett knows how rare it is for someone to be able to spend so many years in the same spot, calling games for athletes, and those athletes’ kids.

“My wife and I love supporting Monett. It’s a great community,” he said. “I love getting to know the students and their parents and families. Being a person who is so big on being involved in the community, I’ve always enjoyed building those relationships.”

Radio was the king of all high school broadcasting mediums when Beckett got his start. The rise of the internet and changes in over-the-air broadcasting has forced him and his team to pivot.

Most sporting events are now available through online streaming. While that took some getting used to, Beckett says it has proved to be beneficial, not only for him, but for the athletes and their families.

“I actually love the fact that now the games are streamed,” he said. “Because that way, grandparents who might be in another state, or parents who are traveling for business, they can still get online and hear the game.”

Streaming also provides the ability for archived broadcasts to be accessed at any time.

“All of those games are available for them to go back and listen to,” Beckett said. “Players can go home after the game and listen to it if they want, or they can bring it up in five years and listen to it.”

Beckett is now retired and plans to keep broadcasting as long as he can. He says throughout the years, the environment around Monett High School, whether it be with athletics or academics, has remained one that he is proud to be a part of.

“All extracurricular activities are important in today’s environment and Monett coaches strive to build character. It’s not always about the win,” he said. “Being on the school board helped me stay connected to the school and I’m glad to still be a part of things and I’ll stay with it as long as the professionals let me work with them.”

He long had the support of his wife, Donna. And, through all the changing sports seasons, the state championships, the memorable calls and tough losses, Beckett says being able to broadcast games when his daughters, Denae and Dedre, played are some of his proudest moments.

“That’s one of my favorite things, when they came along and I got to broadcast their sporting activities,” he said. “Although I had to restrain myself a time or two as a parent when I was calling their games.”