WARREN, Ark. – 10-25-24 – Friday night was no ordinary night under the lights for David King, the long-time color commentator for Warren’s Lumberjack football games on KWRF 105.5 FM. As Warren faced off against Stuttgart, King reached an extraordinary milestone: calling his 500th game over a tenure spanning four decades. Since starting in the fall of 1985, King has missed just five games, a testament to his unwavering commitment to Warren football and his love for broadcasting.
King’s journey with KWRF began on a modest note. After graduation from UAM and having taken a the head job at the Warren YMCA, Jimmy Sledge, the owner of KWRF, first approached him to join as Lumberjack color commentator. King recalls asking whether anyone listened. Sledge reassured him it wasn’t too many—though, as King later found out, the fanbase was more extensive than expected. Not long into his tenure, a voice-recognizing cashier in a local store hinted that his reach was much larger than he initially believed. “I told Jimmy he lied to me,” King remembers with a laugh. “But he said he wasn’t sure I would say yes otherwise.”
King’s dedication has since taken him through many unforgettable matchups, including Warren’s state championship games. He recalls the thrilling 2001 championship victory and the heart-stopping 2006 game, which featured a bold and controversial two-point conversion attempt by Jarius Wright. King recalls a unique 2017 state title game when a person ran onto the field.
One game that stands out from the 1990s involved Warren vs. Greenwood, a clash between vastly different offensive styles under head coach Tommy Arnold. Greenwood, an early adopter of the air raid offense, faced Warren’s option attack—a style Greenwood had not encountered much. With Jonathan Bryant leading the offense, Warren eventually pulled off a win. The game was so electric that King still reminisces about players like Sgt. Terrance Moore, who later joined the Warren Police Department, and teammate Alex Harris. King’s archive of memories also includes a Warren vs. Fordyce game in the late ’80s, a battle against a powerhouse Fordyce team led by a young Clark Watkins, who would go on to success at Arkansas State, and is now a coach at Warren.
Reflecting on the evolution of Lumberjack football over the years, King notes the changing rivalries: “There was Dollarway, Monticello, Fordyce, and Nashville. Even Stuttgart was on that list.” Offensively, the shift from simpler formations like the Slot I to today’s advanced passing strategies has brought a new layer of excitement—and challenge for officials. “Back when I started, two players might run a route. Now, it’s not uncommon to see four or five,” King explains.
Through the years, King has kept detailed unofficial game stats. This dual role of commentator and statistician speaks to his multi-tasking skills, honed over 40 years. “I’ve had to learn to do a lot at once,” he chuckles.
King has also had the pleasure of watching remarkable talent emerge from Warren. He’s witnessed the rise of Division I athletes, NFL players like Jarius Wright, Greg Childs, Chris Gragg, and Treylon Burks, and even an alum, Ricardo Kemp, who won the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup, their version of the Superbowl. King fondly remembers many Lumberjack greats: Alonzo Hampton, Reid McKinney, Terrence Ingram, Savion Gilbert, and Jonathan Bryant, to name a few. “We’ve had exceptional wide receivers,” King notes. “And while they’ve been standouts, I think our quarterbacks have sometimes been overlooked because the receivers are just that talented.”
Reflecting on the leadership shaping Warren’s program, King gives credit to both Coach Tommy Arnold and current head coach Bo Hembree. “Tommy Arnold laid the foundation,” he says, “and Bo has built on it with massive success.” Hembree, who has helmed the Lumberjacks for 25 of King’s 40 years, has crafted a program where even a 7-3 season can feel like a disappointment. “We’ve been spoiled as a fanbase since the early 2000s,” King admits. “Bo has created a mindset here, and his teams don’t believe they’re beaten until the final whistle.”
Beyond football, King is an essential figure in the Warren sports community, contributing stats for Saline River News during football season and writing softball articles in the spring. His voice and insight have become synonymous with Lumberjack football, and his dedication reflects the heart of Warren itself.
Reflecting on his role, King said, “Most people dream of being a sports commentator. They think, wouldn’t that be fun—and it is.”
