Hillsboro, McClain pay tribute to longtime broadcaster Ernie Blankenship WATCH THE VIDEO
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By STEPHEN FORSHA and RORY RYAN
The Highland County Press
He has had a very distinctive way of welcoming listeners to his broadcast, season after season, "Good evening ladies and gentleman and welcome to high school football."
For the past 52 high school football seasons, that friendly voice has spoken to countless fans throughout southern Ohio.
Ernie B. Blankenship called his final Hillsboro Indian football game as a full-time radio broadcaster Friday night from the Bruce Ford Memorial Press Box at Richards Memorial Field.
His final game was fitting, a heated rivalry match-up between two Highland County teams, with the Indians and McClain Tigers battling for the Rotary
Bowl. The game belonged to the Tigers, 28-15.
But the night belonged to Ernie Blankenship.
Known as the 'Radio Voice of Hillsboro and Highland County,' and also as the Dean of Ohio High School Sports Broadcasters, Mr. Blankenship wrapped up his 52nd season of calling high school football on the cool, crisp, fall night in Hillsboro surrounded by many Highland County football fans, his personal friends and his family.
At halftime, an emotional John Barney, the HHS public address announcer, asked fans to turn their attention to the 50-yard line, where Hillsboro
Superintendent Rick Earley and Greenfield Superintendent Terry Fouch paid tribute to the man who has touched thousands of student-athletes' lives.
"We'd like to recognize a community leader, a great family man and a cherished friend," Barney told the Richards Memorial Field crowd.
"We want to show our appreciation for Ernie," Earley said. "All he cared about was making a student's life better. Everything you've done for us is greatly appreciated."
Fouch said it was an "honor for me to stand here next to a legend."
"Ernie, the encouragement you give students is phenomenal," the Greenfield superintendent said.
When given the microphone, Mr. Blankenship said it was a rare event for him to be facing the crowd instead of from his longtime seat in the press box. "And I'm nervous," he said.
"I want to thank all of you from Hillsboro and Greenfield for allowing me into your homes for all these years. It has been my privilege."
Mr. Blankenship gave special thanks to a number of his friends, family, supporters and employers. He thanked Clear Channel Radio, NCB, Tom Archibald and others. He mentioned several of his current and former broadcast partners, including: his brother, Richard Blankenship, Jim Duckwall, Dale Martin, Rocky Coss, Kevin Greer, Jim Vanzant, Ed Frydryk, and others.
The legendary broadcaster of 52 years was joined in the press box by his longtime partners Friday night, in Jim Duckwall, Dale Martin and Richard Blankenship.
Mr. Blankenship is respected by his peers and community members, including long-time public address announcer for the rival McClain Tigers, John Wend,
who has known Blankenship for many years and was in attendance Friday night.
"Ernie has a passion for high school sports like very few people I have ever met. Although his heart is always with the Hillsboro Indians, he has
never displayed much bias when broadcasting," Wend said. "He has always been very gracious in giving credit to the opponents. When he is covering any
area school in the tournaments, he becomes their biggest fan. I don't believe he was ever instructed by his superiors to cover so many different schools and so many games, but he did so by his own choice.
"Ernie never has a negative word to say about a student-athlete or team, and seldom questions an officials call."
Ernie closed his halftime ceremony by thanking many people, most of all his family. "Thank you and God bless you," he told the Hillsboro faithful.
"Tonight is the end of an era," Barney said on Clear Channel Radio's Buckeye Country. "Thank you, Ernie, for being a friend to us all."
By STEPHEN FORSHA and RORY RYAN
The Highland County Press
RICHARDS MEMORIAL FIELD – He has had a very distinctive way of welcoming listeners to his broadcast, season after season: "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to high school football."
For the past 52 high school football seasons, that friendly voice has spoken to countless fans throughout southern Ohio.
Ernie B. Blankenship called his final Hillsboro Indians football game as a full-time radio broadcaster Friday night from the Bruce Ford Memorial Press Box at Richards Memorial Field. Blankenship will broadcast select football games next season, and will broadcast games during the upcoming high school basketball season.
His final full-time football game was fitting, a heated rivalry match-up between two Highland County teams, with the Indians and McClain Tigers battling for the Rotary Bowl. The game belonged to the Tigers, 28-15.
But the night belonged to Ernie Blankenship.
Known as the 'Radio Voice of Hillsboro and Highland County,' and also as the Dean of Ohio High School Sports Broadcasters, Mr. Blankenship wrapped up his 52nd season of calling high school football on the cool, crisp, fall night in Hillsboro surrounded by many Highland County football fans, his personal friends and his family.
At halftime, an emotional John Barney, the HHS public address announcer, asked fans to turn their attention to the 50-yard line, where Hillsboro Superintendent Rick Earley and Greenfield Superintendent Terry Fouch paid tribute to the man who has touched thousands of student-athletes' lives.
"We'd like to recognize a community leader, a great family man and a cherished friend," Barney told the Richards Memorial Field crowd.
"We want to show our appreciation for Ernie," Earley said. "All he cared about was making a student's life better. Everything you've done for us is greatly appreciated."
Fouch said it was an "honor for me to stand here next to a legend."
"Ernie, the encouragement you give students is phenomenal," the Greenfield superintendent said.
When given the microphone, Mr. Blankenship said it was a rare event for him to be facing the crowd instead of from his longtime seat in the press box. "And I'm nervous," he said.
"I want to thank all of you from Hillsboro and Greenfield for allowing me into your homes for all these years. It has been my privilege."
Mr. Blankenship gave special thanks to a number of his friends, family, supporters and employers. He thanked Clear Channel Radio, Chuck Snyder of NCB, Tom Archibald and others. He mentioned several of his current and former broadcast partners, including: his brother, Richard Blankenship, Jim Duckwall, Dale Martin, Rocky Coss, Kevin Greer, Jim Vanzant, Ed Frydryk, and others.
The legendary broadcaster of 52 years was joined in the press box by his longtime partners Friday night, in Jim Duckwall, Dale Martin and Richard Blankenship.
Mr. Blankenship is respected by his peers and community members, including long-time public address announcer for the rival McClain Tigers, John Wend, who has known Blankenship for many years and was in attendance Friday night.
"Ernie has a passion for high school sports like very few people I have ever met. Although his heart is always with the Hillsboro Indians, he has never displayed much bias when broadcasting," Wend said. "He has always been very gracious in giving credit to the opponents. When he is covering any area school in the tournaments, he becomes their biggest fan. I don't believe he was ever instructed by his superiors to cover so many different schools and so many games, but he did so by his own choice.
"Ernie never has a negative word to say about a student-athlete or team, and seldom questions an official's call."
Ernie closed his halftime ceremony by thanking many people, most of all his family.
"Thank you and God bless you," he told the Hillsboro faithful.
"Tonight is the end of an era," Barney said on Clear Channel Radio's Buckeye Country.
"Thank you, Ernie, for being a friend to us all."