Earlier this week in the Longview News-Journal, the sports editor, Jack Stallard, wrote about his first visit to Texas Stadium. This is the last year for Texas Stadium to be the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are moving to a new stadium in Arlington next week.
I will never forget my first visit to Texas Stadium. I was a part time employee of KOCA in Kilgore back in the early 80's and late 70's and was able to go to the annual Texas Sportcasters Meeting held by the Texas Associaiton of Broadcasters.
Three from the station went, Mark McClain, Harry Lane and myself. Part of the weekend was attending the Cowboys preseason game. Each station recieved one press box seat and as many seats in the stands they needed. Who was going to sit in the press box?
Upon arriving at the conference, we inquired if there were any extra press box seats. We were told to check back at lunch. At lunch we recieved the extra passes and we all got to sit in the Auxulairy Press Box B located in the north end zone.
As we ate supper in press cafeteria, which at that time was located directly behind the photo deck, tv and radio booths, I ran into Roger Stabuch, Larry Csonka, Brad Sham, Verne Lundquist, and Pat Summeral. Also I ran into then KLTV channel seven, Tyler sports director Jerry Gumbert. I had done a story on KLTV's live broadcast of a basketball game between John Tyler and Lee for the Kilgore College Flare.
I had never meet Jerry in person before as I did the interview with him over the phone. The beginning fo the friendship with Jerry led me back to Texas Stadium many other times. I went back as Jerry's helper, carrying equipment as he covered the Cowboys home games for KLTV.
That relationship led me to meet David Smoak, Myles Taylor, and Bryan Houston. That relationship led me eventually to a job at KTRE TV as weekend sportscaster. I replaced David Smoak who moved to Tyler to join the KLTV sports team.
At the two minute mark we made our way down to the interview room across the Dallas Cowboys locker room. Since the game was still in progress, we were told we could go down the tunnel and stand on the sideline.
As we came out of the Cowboys tunnel, it was amazing. The crowd noise, the Cowboy bench in front of us. What an experience for a college kid who grew up rooting for the Cowboys.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Count Your Blessings
The Music Director at the church I serve as pastor has been singing the hymn, Count Your Blessings, at least once a week in one of the three times we meet together each week during the month of November. His purpose to remind us to take the time to count the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.
That is what I am going to start to do with today's entry. (The numbers do not stand for a ranking as one better than the other, they are all great. Numbers just to help with keeping things in order.)
My Blessings from the Lord, Count them one by one!
1. Was blessed by having Christian parents. (I miss you Dad).
2. The Holy Spirit showing me my need for Jesus at the age of eight.
3. After becoming a Christian, knowing that God had a plan and purpose for my life.
4. The great experiences of living in Palestine, Tripoli, Abilene, Kilgore, Huntsville, Bryan, Tyler, Arlington, Magnolia, and now Marshall for the last eleven years.
5. March 28, 1987- The day Marianne and I got married at First Baptist, Hallsville.
6. July 12, 1989, August 22, 1995, December 20, 1999, the birthdates of my Children who are still with us.
7. June 12, 1993-June 12, 1993, Alexander Lee Midkiff, Nahum 1:7-God is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows whose loves him.
8. Graduating from Kilgore High School, Sam Houston State University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
9. Serving the Lord at these churches either as a staff person or member; North Jackson BC, Palestine; Southwest Park BC, Abilene; First Baptist, Tripoli; Forest Home BC, Kilgore; Southern Oaks Baptist Church, Tyler; Mt. Carmel BC, Tioga; Woodland Place BC, Magnolia; Friendship BC, Marshall; First Baptist, Marshall; Oak Grove BC. Harleton.
10. Being at the bedside when my Papaw Midkiff and my Dad drew their last breath on earth and the next one was with Jesus in heaven.
11. To cry tears of joy, sadness, and amazement.
12. That God and His Son, Jesus Christ is real and personal to me.
13. Spending time with Marianne, Alison, Andrew and Ashton.
14. THe many friends I have.
15. Being the public relations director at East Texas Baptist University.
16. The dark, dark time after being forced to resign from Friendship Baptist Church after six years of service.
17. Being hired by ETBU five minutes after my interview with Dr. Riley, David Mohn and Vince Blankenship. Nahum 1:7
18. My life verse, Nahum 1:7
The list will grow. God is Good!
That is what I am going to start to do with today's entry. (The numbers do not stand for a ranking as one better than the other, they are all great. Numbers just to help with keeping things in order.)
My Blessings from the Lord, Count them one by one!
1. Was blessed by having Christian parents. (I miss you Dad).
2. The Holy Spirit showing me my need for Jesus at the age of eight.
3. After becoming a Christian, knowing that God had a plan and purpose for my life.
4. The great experiences of living in Palestine, Tripoli, Abilene, Kilgore, Huntsville, Bryan, Tyler, Arlington, Magnolia, and now Marshall for the last eleven years.
5. March 28, 1987- The day Marianne and I got married at First Baptist, Hallsville.
6. July 12, 1989, August 22, 1995, December 20, 1999, the birthdates of my Children who are still with us.
7. June 12, 1993-June 12, 1993, Alexander Lee Midkiff, Nahum 1:7-God is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows whose loves him.
8. Graduating from Kilgore High School, Sam Houston State University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
9. Serving the Lord at these churches either as a staff person or member; North Jackson BC, Palestine; Southwest Park BC, Abilene; First Baptist, Tripoli; Forest Home BC, Kilgore; Southern Oaks Baptist Church, Tyler; Mt. Carmel BC, Tioga; Woodland Place BC, Magnolia; Friendship BC, Marshall; First Baptist, Marshall; Oak Grove BC. Harleton.
10. Being at the bedside when my Papaw Midkiff and my Dad drew their last breath on earth and the next one was with Jesus in heaven.
11. To cry tears of joy, sadness, and amazement.
12. That God and His Son, Jesus Christ is real and personal to me.
13. Spending time with Marianne, Alison, Andrew and Ashton.
14. THe many friends I have.
15. Being the public relations director at East Texas Baptist University.
16. The dark, dark time after being forced to resign from Friendship Baptist Church after six years of service.
17. Being hired by ETBU five minutes after my interview with Dr. Riley, David Mohn and Vince Blankenship. Nahum 1:7
18. My life verse, Nahum 1:7
The list will grow. God is Good!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Kilgore 31 Marshall 28
I had a blast calling the Marshall-Kilgore game. The atomosphere was electrifying. Why? It's playoff time. The game was not decided until the final four minutes when a early snap by the Marshall center put the Mavericks in a bad situation. Looking at third and 35, the Marshall QB threw an interception. Kilgore just ran out the clock to win the game.
Kilgore running back Frank Reddic could not be stopped by the Marshall defense. Kilgore ran 59 offensive plays, with 53 of them going to Reddic. Reddic gained over 340 yards rushing breaking an all time Kilgore single game rushing record.
It was good to inverview Dennis Williams at haltime on KMHT. Williams and I became friends when I was a sophmore at Kilgore and he was a junior. He talked about the being on the staff of the 1990 Marshall Mavericks, who won the Class 5a Big School state championship. Williams' wife was my dauther's 8th grade English teacher at Marshall Jr. High.
Old friends are good to have, give one a call or send an email to touch base and see how they are doing. It will make their day and yours.
Kilgore running back Frank Reddic could not be stopped by the Marshall defense. Kilgore ran 59 offensive plays, with 53 of them going to Reddic. Reddic gained over 340 yards rushing breaking an all time Kilgore single game rushing record.
It was good to inverview Dennis Williams at haltime on KMHT. Williams and I became friends when I was a sophmore at Kilgore and he was a junior. He talked about the being on the staff of the 1990 Marshall Mavericks, who won the Class 5a Big School state championship. Williams' wife was my dauther's 8th grade English teacher at Marshall Jr. High.
Old friends are good to have, give one a call or send an email to touch base and see how they are doing. It will make their day and yours.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Kilgore-Marshall
The Kilgore Bulldogs and the Marshall Mavericks face one another in the high school football playoffs on Friday. Being a 1980 grad of Kilgore and calling the Mavericks on KMHT in Marshall this is always a fun game for me to do.
I got started in broadcasting by catching a ride with my neighbor, Dwight Dorminy, back when I was 16 years old to the Kilgore football game in Palestine. Dwight worked part time for KOCA and did color with Jim Hodo on the Bulldog broadcast. That night in Palestine I was the spotter for Jim. I loved being in the press box and a part of the broadcast. Matter of fact I continued to be Jim's spotter for the reminder of the season.
Then at one game Jim asked, "Would you like to audition for a part time job as a disc jockey." I jumped on that invitation and my first board shift was on Christmas Eve 1977. While at KOCA I got to do everything. I had my on show, I did newscasts, sportscasts, remotes, and yes, play by play for football, basketball and baseball.
This will be my fifth Kilgore-Marshall game to call on KMHT. The games have all been good. Since both teams are red, sometimes I call the Bulldogs, Mavericks and the Mavericks, Bulldogs. I have people ask me in Marshall who know I am from Kilgore ask, "Who do you want to win?"
I know I am getting old because I have called Marshall-Kilgore games in which the sons of friends I went to high school with. Matter of fact, Friday night the number one running back is Frank Reddic, son of Jerry Reddic. Jerry and I both graduated from Kilgore in 1980. Jerry is a coach on the Kilgore staff.
What I really want is one of those football games that people walk away and say, "What a game. I wished both teams could have won tonight. Both teams played great games and with all their heart. To bad ______________ had to lose."
I just can not fill in the blank. I want Marshall to win, I want Kilgore to win. That's not possible. One will win and one will start playing basketball on Monday.
If you are interested, you can listen to the game on the internet at www.kmhtradio.com. My scheduled halftime guest is Dennis Williams, former Marshall Maverick football coach, teacher and assistant principal, and now an adminstrator in the Kilgore ISD. Looking forward to visiting with an old friend.
I got started in broadcasting by catching a ride with my neighbor, Dwight Dorminy, back when I was 16 years old to the Kilgore football game in Palestine. Dwight worked part time for KOCA and did color with Jim Hodo on the Bulldog broadcast. That night in Palestine I was the spotter for Jim. I loved being in the press box and a part of the broadcast. Matter of fact I continued to be Jim's spotter for the reminder of the season.
Then at one game Jim asked, "Would you like to audition for a part time job as a disc jockey." I jumped on that invitation and my first board shift was on Christmas Eve 1977. While at KOCA I got to do everything. I had my on show, I did newscasts, sportscasts, remotes, and yes, play by play for football, basketball and baseball.
This will be my fifth Kilgore-Marshall game to call on KMHT. The games have all been good. Since both teams are red, sometimes I call the Bulldogs, Mavericks and the Mavericks, Bulldogs. I have people ask me in Marshall who know I am from Kilgore ask, "Who do you want to win?"
I know I am getting old because I have called Marshall-Kilgore games in which the sons of friends I went to high school with. Matter of fact, Friday night the number one running back is Frank Reddic, son of Jerry Reddic. Jerry and I both graduated from Kilgore in 1980. Jerry is a coach on the Kilgore staff.
What I really want is one of those football games that people walk away and say, "What a game. I wished both teams could have won tonight. Both teams played great games and with all their heart. To bad ______________ had to lose."
I just can not fill in the blank. I want Marshall to win, I want Kilgore to win. That's not possible. One will win and one will start playing basketball on Monday.
If you are interested, you can listen to the game on the internet at www.kmhtradio.com. My scheduled halftime guest is Dennis Williams, former Marshall Maverick football coach, teacher and assistant principal, and now an adminstrator in the Kilgore ISD. Looking forward to visiting with an old friend.
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