Gooch Holbert remembers sitting in the stands at what is now Wayne Jamison Field decades ago as a kid. He remembers his father taking him and the family to games after moving to Bridgeport in the early 1960s and watching the great 1962 team go undefeated that year.

 

“I just remember how big the players seemed to me,” said Holbert. “They were larger than life and I wanted to part of it.”

 

Eventually he would be. He played on some of Bridgeport’s best teams, starting out for Ed Carder and finishing in the early years of the legendary Wayne Jamison as a member of the 1971 Class AAA squad.

 

Throughout all of that, Holbert remembers something else. He fondly recalls the voice emanating around the field. And the voice belonged to a legend in his own right – Frank “Doc” Stevens.

 

Stevens served as the public address announcer at Bridgeport for years. However, he became famous for doing the same thing for West Virginia University football where he loudly proclaimed “Let’s Bring o the Mountaineers” and “The Pride of West Virginia.”

 

“He was just awesome. I’d listen to him on Friday night and in Morgantown,” said Holbert, a rare three-year letter winner from that time period as an upback. “I never really dreamed I’d be in the same capacity as him for Bridgeport football.”

 

Indeed he has. Holbert has become as much a fixture on the public address system at Jamison Field as the stick-I was and now the power pistol. If you don’t believe it, understand that when Holbert got behind the microphone Friday night to call the Indians game with Lewis County that it was the start of his 25^th year of work behind the microphone.

 

“I can’t believe it’s been that long,” said Holbert.

 

He said he hopes Stevens would approve of his calling of the games. While the voices are different, Holbert said he believes the style is similar.

 

“Inadvertently, I’ve patterned what I do during our games after him. In my mind then, and even today, that’s what it’s supposed to be like,” said Holbert. “Doc was matter of fact and told people the information they needed.

 

“The funny thing is that I try to keep the tone the same as best I can and I actually get crazy excited before I turn on the microphone during the games. Once I turn it on to talk, that has to go away,” he said. “No one wants your opinion as a PA announcer. The fans want to know what yard line the ball is on, what down it is and what the penalty call is. That’s my job and that’s how it should be for anyone that’s a PA announcer once the game starts.”

 

Holbert didn’t fall into the job completely by accident. He actually did some media work before starting in 1994 behind the microphone. He and the late Phil “Sonny” Nicewarner did radio for three years before doing the announcing.

 

“We were just a couple of good old boys talking football. The guys now doing this, Travis (Jones), he’s a pro. We’d just talk about the game and after three years I sat out when I was asked about doing the PA work,” said Holbert.

 

Gerry Loudin, said Holbert, did the announcing after Doc Stevens and he wasn’t sure if there was anyone else. However, it was when Loudin stepped down the door opened for Holbert.

 

“When they asked me I said I’d love to do it,” said Holbert.

 

The rest, as they say, is history. And Holbert has got to call plenty of it, including parts of four state championship seasons.

 

“There’s really not a moment that stands out. What stands out to me is the tradition,” said Holbert. “These boys just keep carrying it on with non-losing seasons and playoff appearances. That’s what is special and I’m glad to be a tiny part of it.”

 

Holbert quickly gives credit to others. He’s got the legendary Joey Burner next to him running clock and he’s got more than one spotter helping him out.

 

“That’s important because sometimes you get caught up in the moment and when you have good spotters like I do it’s never a problem,” said Holbert. “It allows me to say what I’m supposed to say.”

 

One thing that’s rarely said, if ever, is Holbert’s real first name – Steve. It’s been that way, he said, most of his life and the origins go back to Marion County.

 

“I’ve been married 43 years and my wife has never called me Steve. Even my mom and dad called me Gooch,” said Holbert.

 

Holbert said it goes back to the late 1950s, when he was roughly 5-years-old and he walked to his neighbor’s home, Dick Kesling, in Fairmont. Kesling, who Holbert found out later was the captain of the WVU NIT basketball champions in 1942, always welcomed the youngster into his house with his wife Lori.

 

“He just started calling me Gooch and then my siblings began calling me that and it’s been that way ever since. I’m not sure why he called me that, but I know there are a lot of Steve’s out there and not too many that go by the name Gooch,” he said. “I’m certainly fine with it.”

 

I would imagine the BHS faithful are fine with Holbert behind the microphone. And for those who enjoy him, something’s going to happen this year that hasn’t happen in the roughly quarter of a century of his work.

 

“I’m going to miss my first game in my 25 years, but I’ve got a legitimate excuse. My son Adam is getting married and it’s the homecoming game against Robert C. Byrd, but I think everyone knows exactly what takes priority here,” said Holbert.

 

So how much longer will Holbert be in the press box on Friday nights at Wayne Jamison Field?

 

“I’ll either do it until they throw me out or if I become disinterested or if I think I’m not doing my job,” said Holbert, who also celebrated 26 years this past year of being a volunteer youth baseball coach in the community this season. “I still enjoy it and look forward to it and being a small part of it. Besides, if I wasn’t up there in the box I’d be there any way. I think I’ll be around for a while longer.”

 

We’re glad to have you Steve. Excuse me, I mean Gooch.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Gooch Holbert calling a game during the 2017 season, while he's shown in the second photo talking with staff from Weir prior to the Indians' playoff contest to go over the proper pronunciation of names. In the bottom photo, Holbert is shown doing an interview from his playing days at the Connect-Bridgeport offices. Top photo by www.benqueenphotography.com.