THEVOICE December 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCERS naspaa welcomes new affiliate members The NASPAA is pleased to welcome four representing 1,422 high schools and more About the Michigan High School Athletic new Affiliate Members. Partnering with the than 3,000 middle and elementary schools. Association NASPAA are the University Interscholastic The UIL sanctions 23 athletic events and League, Michigan High School Athletic hosts state championships for each of The Michigan High Association, Washington Interscholastic those activities. School Athletic Activities Association and American Legion Association, located Baseball. Affiliate Members share the same The objective of the UIL is to enhance the in East Lansing, is a private, not-for-profit core values and P.A. announcing philosophy students’ educational experience and corporation of voluntary membership by as the NASPAA. prepare them for citizenship by providing over 1,500 public and private senior high interscholastic competition among the schools and junior high/middle schools “We could not be more excited about elementary and secondary schools of which exists to develop common rules for having an opportunity to be of service to Texas. athletic eligibility and competition. No these organizations,” commented Brad government funds or tax dollars support the Rumble, NASPAA Executive Director. “I “The UIL is MHSAA, which was the first such know each executive director personally, excited to association nationally to not accept and have tremendous respect for them and support the membership dues or tournament entry fees what they do for their respective members. efforts of the from schools. Member schools which Having their support will go a long way in NASPAA. The enforce these rules are permitted to helping raise the level of professionalism of goals and participate in MHSAA tournaments, which P.A. announcing.” objectives of attract approximately 1.6 million spectators the NASPAA each year. About the University Interscholastic organization League enhance Through their boards of education, member competition at schools voluntarily join the MHSAA each The UIL was Dr. Charles Breithaupt the state and and every year, vowing by formal resolution established in 1910 local levels. We to abide by and enforce common rules for by the University of believe this organization also enhances the educational athletics. Membership is Texas at Austin. values and standard of the UIL.” optional: schools may conduct a complete Since that time, the Dr. Charles Breithaupt, UIL Executive program of interscholastic athletics and UIL has grown into Director may participate against MHSAA member an organization that sanctions 72 state schools in regular-season competition competitions in music, academics and For more information about the UIL, go to without joining the MHSAA. athletics. Currently, more than two million www.uil.utexas.edu students compete in these activities, continued on p. 2 Sponsored by the Official Online Learning Company of the NASPAA: www.schwindtec.com/ board of directors brad rumble tom busch jeff kurtz mark mills mike mccartney president secretary p.a. announcer p.a. announcer stadium announcer executive director kent state university missouri state high school kansas city royals activities association continued from p. 1 The opportunities for athletic participation • At least 80 percent of all students within In 1925, the American Legion Baseball for Michigan secondary schools has grown a member school will be active program began with a simple mission of from the original program of football, participants in at least one (1) activity combating juvenile delinquency by providing basketball, track and baseball for boys to a annually. recreational baseball during the summer total of 28 sport activities in which • Public understanding and support of the months. It was the first organization to host tournaments for boys and girls are value of interscholastic activities and a national championship. There are nearly organized and conducted by the MHSAA. If athletics in education will be increased. 5,000 teams located in all 50 states, one considers the breakdown of the 28 • All member schools will implement a Puerto Rico and Canada. Each state hosts sports into categories of male, female, written plan to address citizenship. district and state championship games. classes and divisions by enrollment, and • All member schools will employ Each state champion is then permitted to Upper and Lower Peninsula, there are a competent, caring and knowledgeable play in a national Regional Tournament and total of 120 separate tournaments in which coaches. the final eight teams play for a national schools vie for a championship trophy. • Achievement and excellence will be championship. More information about Nearly 300,000 young men and women recognized. American Legion Baseball can be found on take part in these activities each year. its baseball website at www.legion.org/ Approximate 165,509 students participate baseball. “The MHSAA in WIAA sponsored events, representing promotes the proper 420 high schools and 430 middle schools. The national office is located in Indianapolis, perspective for The WIAA conducts 83 team Indiana. Annually, the American Legion educational athletics, championships for the 13 sports and five members on the local, state and national and on game day, activities that it sponsors. levels provide hundreds of thousands of contributing to that scholarships to deserving students. On atmosphere is the “Public address average, more than one million dollars is public address announcers are a awarded in scholarships by its members. announcer. We’re key component in pleased to be working all our “The American John Roberts with the NASPAA to competitions, Legion is pleased describe and demand the proper conduct because they to join the for public address announcers in our have a NASPAA and we after-school classroom.” responsibility to will be John Roberts, MHSAA Executive Director ensure the safety encouraging our of the participants local announcers More information about the Association can Mike Colbrese and to make the to join. The be found on its website - www.mhsaa.com. spectators feel welcomed. The WIAA is expertise and proud to partner with the National experience we will About the Washington Interscholastic Association of Sports Public Address Jim Quinlan derive from this Activities Association Announcers (NASPAA) as they carry out association will benefit our members and this important mission.” fans who attend the thousands of Legion The WIAA was WIAA Executive Director Mike Colbrese ball games each year.” established in Jim Quinlan, National Program Coordinator, 1905. Its For more information about the WIAA, go to American Legion Baseball headquarters is in www.WIAA.com Renton, WA. Its For more information about American mission is to assist About American Legion Baseball Legion Baseball, go to http://legion.org/ member schools in operating student baseball. programs that foster achievement, respect, The American Legion was equity, enthusiasm and excellence in a safe formed in 1919 follow and organized environment. WWI to assist the needy and disabled veterans The indicators to determine satisfactory returning from France. It is progress toward achieving the mission America’s largest shall be: veterans organization with 2.4 million members. 2 a tribute to bob sheppard naspaa p.a. announcer of the By Jeffrey Smith Burleson, TX year award now named after bob sheppard “Good afternoon style was simple and is often imitated. Jim ladies and Hall, a fill-in at Yankee Stadium and a friend gentlemen, and of Sheppard, once said, “You can go to The NASPAA is proud to announce that the welcome to Yankee other arenas and ballparks and hear the NASPAA P.A. Announcer of the Year Award Stadium.” For 57 different styles, but the one you hear talked has been renamed the Bob Sheppard P.A. years as the New about, because it’s the best, is Bob’s.” Announcer of the Year Award. Sheppard, York Yankees Public known for being the consummate Address Announcer, Sheppard was good at what he did. He was professional, is considered to have been Bob Sheppard used special. Not for how long he did it, but for the best P.A. announcer ever. that greeting to how he did it. He was faithful and welcome fans into consistent to his church, his family, and his “The Bob Sheppard P.A. Announcer of the Jeff Smith “the house that teaching career, as well as to the teams for Year Award represents what Bob Sheppard Ruth built.” which he announced. and the NASPAA are all about, which is professionalism,” commented Brad While Sheppard’s P.A. announcing career The NASPAA mission statement mirrors the Rumble, NASPAA Executive Director. “We lasted nearly six decades, his legacy to P.A. views and beliefs of the man who set the are truly humbled to have been provided announcers will last forever. His son, Paul bar for P.A. announcers. Bob Sheppard did this extraordinary opportunity to present Sheppard, said his dad’s success was it right. He was clear, concise, and correct. our award in his name and to help attributed to his love for the English There’s a fourth “C” that ought to be perpetuate his legacy.” language. Bob taught speech for more than mentioned: Bob also had class. 40 years at the high school and college “I am unaware of any national awards for levels before taking the Yankees job in Thanks Bob. You will be missed, but not sports P.A. announcers, but even if there 1951. His gentle and unassuming forgotten. were, none would be as symbolic to P.A. personality was a perfect fit as a P.A. announcing as the Bob Sheppard Award,” announcer for the Yankees, as well as the Jeff is now in his 26th year of public remarked Jeff Kurtz, NASPAA Board New York Giants, St. John’s University, and address announcing. He announces TCU Member and Kent State University P.A.