KARNS CITY — Sam Swick filled a need 51 years ago.

He's been filled with joy ever since.

Swick, 85, has been the public address announcer at Karns City High School sporting events for well over 30 years. He began working high school events in 1968, when he worked the scoreboard clock at East Brady football games on Saturday afternoons.

“My son Dave was on the football team and the person who used to work the clock didn't want to do it anymore,” Swick recalled. “They were looking for somebody and I said I'd do it.

“My other son, Joe, played basketball at East Brady. That's how I got involved working the basketball games there.”

He's never stopped.

Swick taught science and math to sixth-graders at Chicora Elementary for more than 30 years. Karns City needed a p.a. announcer and Swick volunteered his services again.

One of his grandsons — lineman Bryant Oddo — played football for KC during Swick's tenure as announcer.

“He was doing the East Brady games and I never thought we'd get him to do Karns City, too,” retired KC athletic director Tom Wagner said. “Sam's been so dependable through the years, it's ridiculous.

“He did every event ... He still does every event. If he ever retires, it's going to take two or three people to replace him.”

Swick announces varsity and junior varsity football, boys and girls soccer, cross country, boys and girls basketball, softball, track and junior high soccer at Karns City.

He lives nine miles from the school and has worn that drive out through the years.

“During the fall, I'm here four nights a week, during the summer, four, five, maybe six,” Swick said. “I never get tired of it. It's fun being around the kids.

“I enjoy watching the games and I respect the skills displayed by both teams in all sports.”

Swick always credits the opposition over the p.a. system for making a good play.

“I believe in being fair to everyone,” he said.

Swick serves as a pastor for the United Church of Christ, a small church of 25 to 30 members near Clarion.

“I wanted to help a church that couldn't afford a full-time pastor,” Swick said. “I just want to help out.”

That help has been noticed.

“He's an amazing guy, an outstanding individual,” Karns City football coach Joe Sherwin said. “I was one of his students when I was in sixth grade.

“All these years and Sam still does a fantastic job. “

Former East Brady football coach Terry Henry said supporters like Sam Swick “are invaluable to athletics at this level.

“He likes to stay active and he likes to stay involved,” Henry added. “I'm not surprised he's still doing it. He's one of the most dependable people I've ever met.

“Sam has always been efficient, always on time. If he was on the job ... you just never had to worry about it.”

Among all of the memories Swick has of working five decades in high school sports, two stand out the most.

“I got to see the East Brady (boys basketball) team win the state championship in 1980 and the Karns City girls basketball team win it in 2000,” he said. “I've always been proud of playing a small part in those championship seasons.

“I got to watch (East Brady's) Jim Kelly play in high school and make it all the way to the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame. I taught two girls in sixth grade who were eventually on that Karns City state title team. You could see their athletic skills back then. They were as good athletically as any of the boys on the playground.”

Swick has no plans to leave the booth anytime soon.

“As long as I can do this, I will,” he said. “My vision is perfect. I care about the kids. If what I do helps them, so be it.”

Wagner described Swick as being so good at what he does — and has been doing for so long — he's almost taken for granted.

“He makes a point to get it right,” Wagner said. “Before each game, he meets with the opposing coach to make sure he has all of their pronunciations right.

“Sam is loyal, professional, dependable ... I can't say one bad thing about him and I've never heard anything but good things about that man. He's one of a kind.

“He's set a standard here that will be very difficult to follow,” Wagner added.