John Carpenter has always enjoyed golfing.

He enjoyed it as a high school and college student and is enjoying now in retirement.

In between was that 30-year block when golf was second to Slippery Rock University athletics.

Carpenter was the school's sports information director starting in 1969 until his retirement in June 1999.

"I'm trying to play a lot of golf," said Carpenter, 60, who still resides in Slippery Rock.

"When I started here I quit. I'm too competitive, and if I didn't play regularly, I wouldn't get any better.

"I didn't play for 15 years. Then, as I got closer to retirement, I started playing more," he added.

Carpenter plays about four times a week and started the year as a 5 handicap, "which was the lowest it's been, but now it's 9."

Carpenter still remains involved at the university by working on committees, including the school's Hall of Fame.

Along with Bill Black, the duo are co-chairmen to the Butler Eagle Amateur Open, which will be held this year Aug. 8 at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Gibsonia.

"There's a lot that goes into that," said Carpenter. "You have to select a course, set up rules and standards, work on the budget."

That shouldn't seem too difficult since Carpenter had been a big reason why SRU has seen its sports programs develop on his watch.

Back in 1969, there weren't as many choices as there are today.

There were only 11 varsity sports at the school when he began, none of which were women's sports. It boasted 22 when Carpenter left.

"It's changed greatly," said Carpenter. "When I first started, we only had men's sports. There was the Women's Recreation Association, a club, and they'd send us their information.

"In 1975, when the NCAA recognized women's sports, it brought a lot of work, but it gave women the chance to compete and be recognized," he added.

Carpenter saw the university expand in so many ways during his tenure. Aside from watching the number of sports double in size, the school also hosted many events that put it on the national stage.

"We hosted the track and field championships in the early 1970s," said carpenter. "We hosted numerous Division II championships, cross country, track and field, baseball. I can't think of how many NCAA and conference championships we hosted.

"SRU was known for its great facilities and they're greater facilities now," Carpenter added.

As for memorable athletes along the way, football players seem to jump out quickly, but, again, there have been so many along the way.

"Chuck Sanders, Greg Paterra, Ricky Porter, those are three football players that stood out. And Myron Brown in basketball. I'd hate to start mentioning some because I don't want to forget anyone," he said.

Talk about the greatest athlete he ever saw at the Rock and he'll tell you about quarterback Randy McKavish, who led The Rock from 1997-2000.

"Not so much for his athletic talent, but his ability to lead a team," said Carpenter. "And, he led the basketball team, too, for a couple of years.

"He has that leadership ability and the guys listened to him. He wasn't a vocal leader, but a quiet leader," Carpenter added.

On Wednesday, Carpenter and his wife, Julie, will celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary. They are grandparents to triplets.

"Julie and I have been together a long time," said Carpenter. "She's been my support system and helped get me through a lot."

THE CARPENTER FILE

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Name:

John Carpenter

Age:

60

Residence:

Slippery Rock

Family:

Wife Julie, sons Mark (35) and Mike (31)

Sports Connection:

Served 30 years (1969-99) as the sports information director at Slippery Rock University