Missouri State

Lyndal Scranton
Sportswriter
DON PAYTON AWARD

A local journalist and long-time Bears beat writer, Lyndal Scranton is the recipient of this year's Don Payton Award. 

Scranton worked for the Springfield News-Leader from 1979 to 2015, enjoying a 36-year run covering a wide range of local and regional sports stories. He became Missouri State's primary beat writer in 1989 and served in that capacity, primarily covering football and men's basketball until his retirement. 

The Springfield native has since become the public relations director for Lucas Oil Speedway and a contributing sports reporter for the Springfield Daily Citizen.

He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.