Larry Jewell

Eight ninety KDXU news time. It is 406 in the afternoon. Good afternoon, I'm Mike McGarry and welcome once again to another edition of the Sports. Mike, good to have you with us today. Although it's going to be a very different kind of a program today. And I have several actually special guests who will be joining me here on the show. And for those who have been involved in sports in Utah's Dixie in Radio here in the area for the last, oh, I don't know, quite a few years, they will remember the name of Larry Jewell. Larry Jewell, longtime announcer here in the area, again with the voice of the Dixie State College Rebels for many, many years. And he got cancer a couple years ago, passed away earlier today. And I would like to take the time and I've had a lot of folks call and voice support for such a move to spend a few minutes deprogrammed today in kind of remembering Larry Jewell and what he did for the area, what he meant to sports, what he meant to broadcasting and basically what he meant as a good guy, as a neighbor and a friend here in Utah's Dixie. We'll be talking with several people who have known him and I would like to go first of all to our through the phone lines to check in with head coach Greg Croshaw at Dixie State College. I know even out on the field as we speak. But Coach, I know your time with Larry Jewell probably goes back about as far as any of us. Well, that's right. No need to bring that up, but it certainly does. Larry was here when I came 22 years ago and of course, I'd like to say from all of us at Dixie College and you know, my wife called today and you know, the best of his family, our warmest regards. And you know, it's been a struggle, but he, you know, his mind was as sharp as ever, but he had a hard time getting through that. And I know that he wanted to stay home and see his boy home off a mission and a few of those things that he was able to do. And it's, you know, it's, it's one of those things where it's a kind of leaves a void in your life of somebody that is an all time great person. I mean, you'd have to go a long ways as you know, Mike, to find a better person, a better spirit, a better, I mean, everything you, I mean, if you can find anybody say anything bad about Larry Jew, I'd like to, I'd like To meet him because I'd smack him with a hammer. I was gonna say we'd probably fight him, wouldn't it? Yeah, yeah, but. But. And then a guy that just absolutely loves sports, he, you know, he was the voice of the Rebels for quite first got started. He traveled with us and you know, we had some great stories and he was just, you know, besides being a great family guy, he just was a great person. And like I say, it leaves a void for all of us. And it's something that you certainly won't forget. The impact that Larry had on the sports community. I think Mikey, I think he found out about the cancer. I think he had some. I don't think it was very long back during the Pioneers game, if I'm not mistaken. Absolutely. He came back and did a couple of games, then had to go in for the cancer. But then even after surgery and all that had happened, he came back the next season and completed an entire season of broadcast with the Pioneers. Well, I know I had a question on some, I think on Roderick Johnson. I was being quizzed on. They wanted information on Roderick on his career rushing. They knew that he was the all time single season leading rusher. And so I called Larry and he, you know, he was apologetic and said I'm going to have to this just a year or so ago. They're going to have to maybe give me some time and if you call me back or I'll call you back. And he did a couple days later. And he kept those notebooks and it was absolutely amazing. I mean he went through there, he'd tell me, you know, second 10, he rose for three yards. And what I mean while he went, I was trying to get to him, just say, Larry, I just need to know how many yards he had that season. But that, I mean he had that. And there was a guy I told somebody today reminded me of those and old ex mayor Carl Brooks. He's the most amazing guy I'd ever seen. No one family where you came from, your genealogy. And then that's the way Larry was with sports. And we had some great trips. I'll tell you. It was kind of interesting. We were in Phoenix and we were out at the batting cages one time and the coaches were all puffing up there betting and who could do what. We kept cranking the speed up on the batting cage and it got up to I think 85 or something. And Larry was in there with us. We spoke so many times. Most of us had blisters, but he took over high and tight and hit him right on the inside of the shoulder. I'll tell you what, I think he was black and blue for about six months after that one, but he hung in there. And then. I think he's the only guy, Mike, maybe you talked to learn from him. But we actually left him. I know at least once at Air Force he just kind of disappeared. I said, now better keep an eye on us. When it's time to go, we're going. We'd stayed to watch BYU and Air Force play and I guess they kind of wrestled Larry into coming up spotting or he'd worked his way in or something. And we got up and left and nobody even knew. He wasn't there until we got back. And he called and said it was usually left me in Colorado Springs. And I said, well, where are you? He was already home. He'd flown back, I think with a team or somebody. I was gonna say we left you because you. Larry's told me that story many times and he always ends with, but I beat him home, Mike. I beat him home. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, well, yeah, obviously we could probably go on for hours. I know you've got a long line of memories of Larry Jewell and, and I just. But I appreciate you taking time, coach. I know you're busy today, but I knew also you one that would want to just have a few things to say about Larry because of your association with him all these many years. Well, I appreciate the opportunity. Like I say, we, you know, we here at Dixie College, you know, send our sympathies and everything. I hope I don't get hit by lightning out here, Mike. Kind of wild there, huh? I appreciate the opportunity because like I said, you know, there's very few times in life you get to meet somebody in this existence that you say, you know, if I'm lucky enough to get to heaven, I don't want to run into this guy. And that's. That's Larry Jewell. Yeah, in a nutshell. Coach, thanks so much for talking with us today. My pleasure. Thanks, Mike. You bet. Thank you very much. Again, those who may be just joining us, a bit of a different show. Larry Jewell, longtime broadcaster, sports announcer here in the area, passed away earlier this morning. He was in his early to mid-50s, I'm not sure, but I've known him quite a while. And another one is a co worker of mine, Brian Benware has been here. He and I guess have been about the same amount of time, haven't we, Brian? Yeah, we have. And Larry hired me here at, at KDXU and the Simmons Family Media Group and had many, many opportunities to work with Larry in sports and here at the radio station. And I echo everything that Coach Croshaw. To Pam and the rest of the family, my heartfelt condolences go out, but also my gratitude for letting us all share in Larry's life and what he brought, not only to the broadcast booth and. And. But into our individual lives, values and. And integrity and everything that he showed forth in his work. Yeah, Larry was a people's man from the word go. And I think you and I have talked, especially today, but even in the past, as we have both worked with Larry, he was there for you, and he made you feel special no matter where he was. And, you know, this is not the soft pill. This is not soft soap. This is absolute fact when it comes to Larry. I don't know. I don't know that I ever saw Larry without a smile on, and he had the dimples. And, you know, he just. He was. He was just beamed. I mean, he was. He was a guy that when you were in a bad mood, he couldn't be a bad. In a bad mood around him. So Larry will definitely be missed. But. But, you know, Coach Croshaw alluded to the fact that he knew so much about sports. He knew more about sports than I've forgotten about sports. Well, he's known. He knows a lot. I mean, a lot of stuff that no one would really care to know. That's the funny thing about Larry. You know, we give him a hard time because he' do bowling stories. He did. Oh, absolutely. Do a handball story. I mean, he. And he'd know about these people, and not only them, but their cousin who happened to be in a. In a yachting club back East. And, you know, that that was the fun thing with Larry. He retained so much also. He utilized his brain power better than anyone that I've ever known as far as sports and knowing about the sports and about what made people tick in those sports. He knew about the. The kids at the college and the kids in high school. Not only that, Little League. He knew. Oh, absolutely, their parents, and he knew them. And so if you played Little League and now you're an adult, Larry covered your game. I'm sure. I. I know for a fact, Larry, we mentioned, obviously, and you've kind of alluded me, was the voice of the Rebels for, I don't know, 10, 15 years, 16, seven, whatever. It was a long, long time prior to my time here, but I heard him do Dixie College games. I think he's done high school games. I've heard him do American Legion games. I've heard Little League games on the air because he felt it was important enough that it was a part of the community, if it' and it's community minded. He wanted to be right there. He loved it. He absolutely loved it. I mean, it wasn't a job to Larry. It was never a job. It was a passion. And if we could all live our lives and if we could all do what we do with that kind of passion, it'd be amazing what we could accomplish. But Larry, you know, chose to stay here in St. George for many, many years. And I know that he had the ability and the. The wherewithal to do major college. Absolutely. And was. Made many offers in other areas and. But he loved. He loved St. George area and made this his home along with his family, and they still obviously resided in Washington. And, you know, he was just an incredible talent along with everything else that he did. And you and I kind of have a unique situation. We've been here about the same amount of time. We've known Larry about the same amount of time. And we both had the inauspicious honor of following Larry Jewell either on the air in sports or something, which those big shoes to fill. Yeah, it was very, very difficult. And I know for you, you went through some. A couple of years. It was very, very difficult for you. They love Larry. They loved Larry. Absolutely. It's hard to sometimes follow a legend that definitely. So, yeah, there's no doubt about it. Brian, I appreciate you coming in. I know you and I can. We could go on for hours and talk about it, but a lot of other folks that wanted to get on, but I knew you'd want to come in and, you know, pay the tribute that Larry also deserves. Opportunity. And I. And once again, my condolences to Larry's family. And I talked with Pam recently and we just love her as well. Absolutely. And the kids. And just once again, we're very, very sorry and really hope that we can do. If there's anything that we can. Absolutely. Thank you very much. Brian Bender, once again, longtime employee here and of course, right now operations manager for Simmons media here in St. George. Also now on the phone with us, we have the head baseball, Dixie State College, Mike Littlewood, coach. Again, thanks so much for calling in. Oh, Larry, I would do anything for Larry. Mike, this is, you know, I guess if there's any way we can, as a baseball family in St. George, pay tribute to Larry this would be the one way, so I'm happy to do it. Yeah, Larry, he loves sports and we've talked about that, but I honestly believe, even though he did a lot of baseball or, excuse me, a lot of basketball and football, baseball was at his heart. I know he was played a little bit of semi pro early in his year and ended up, I know, later in his career actually doing some Zion Pioneers as announcer. And you were the coach there? Yeah, you know, I was manager for two years and I was also the third base coach under Bruce Hurst when Bruce was the manager for the first year and Larry's with us for that time. But you know, I just know that Larry's dream was to do play by play, professional baseball, play by play. And when the Zion Pioneers gave him that opportunity, it kind of fulfilled a lifelong dream. But you talk about his playing career. We got him in the cage a few times and he got in there. He was a left handed hitter and he was a little bit too much of a pull hitter, but he did okay. Especially for a guy coming out of the booth after a lot of years. That's right. You know, the one thing that impressed me about Larry is even after the diagnosis of cancer and he went through surgeries and a lot of things, he came back next year. And I know because he came to me and he says, mike, I want to finish an entire season. And he did. Yeah. One, one memory that my wife, Danny and I were talking about is when, when he first was diagnosed and, and had his, had his tumor removed. We went up to LDS Hospital to see him and Pam was up there and, and by his side. We, we kind of had to work our way up through, you know, security to get to where he was. It was kind of tight up there and you know, we went in there and he had just been out of surgery, not more than, I would think, more than 14, 16 hours. And we walk in there and the first thing he says is, how's your family and, and how's your dad doing? My father was in a recent car accident and he was trying to do anything. He was talking about Pam and how proud he was, how strong she was and, and his kids and trying to do anything he could to deflect the attention off of him. And you know, when I think of, when I think of Larry, I just, I think of a few words. He was so humble, conscientious of what he did as far as stats and making sure everything was right that came over the radio out of his mouth and so consistent. So Many times with the Pioneers, you know, you'd lose three or four games in a row, and the worst thing you want to do is get on that bus and go to the ballpark. But I'd get on a bus and Larry would be sitting in that second seat with a big smile on his face and, you know, kind of put things in perspective. He's a very consistent guy, you know, probably. Probably the nicest man I've ever met. You know, that word comes up, and that's an honest, heartfelt word from anybody you talk to. Larry Jewell was a nice guy. He was a nice guy. And, you know, you look at professional baseball players, these 25 season veteran baseball players, who are pretty hardcore guys, and then you look at maybe the opposite of the spectrum, and Larry Jewell, and he had the respect of every single one of those guys, just by the way he handled himself. And again, how consistent he was. He treated those guys just like he was lifelong friends with them. You know, the Rod McCall's and the Robert Miros and the guys who have been around pro ball for a long time, and they really had a true, genuine respect for Larry. And, you know, like you said, he was. Everything that came out of his mouth was statistically. Every day we'd get on the bus, he'd give us a rundown on what had happened yesterday, who was now leading the league, and by how many percentage points, and then he probably pulled three or four obscure Western league stats out of his. Out of the back of his head and give them to us. So. Real interesting, interesting guy. Yeah, absolutely. We actually, Brian, Ben, were with me here also. We were talking about the fact that whatever you wanted to know, not only about the players and the teams, but their families and their grandparents. And it seems like he had all that just stored, and it just, it was there immediately upon recall. So you want to know stats, you want to know statistics, you want to know people? Larry was the guy. Oh, absolutely. You know, I just. I had only been down in St. George, you know, six, seven years, and he would be naming people who I think came on the wagons and pulled the wagon trains down here. And, you know, he would just blow me away with all this information he was bringing across. And, you know, I would look at somebody sitting next to me and go, you know, can you believe this guy, how much information he knows? And he would never pull out a computer and do stats, everything game by game with the Pioneers, he would do with a pencil and, you know, somebody would go three for four. He would erase the batting Average, redo it in his head, mark it down. And then everything was done by pencil. Nothing was done by computer, which I found very interesting with Laird. Just kind of old habits, I guess, are hard to die. But that was one thing that I always remember about him. Indeed, he was an incredible guy. Coach Mike Littlewood again, the head coach at Dixie State College. I appreciate Mike, again, you're coming on the air, but I know it's something you really would want to have done. Absolutely. And I want to tell Pam and her family that, you know, we had everybody I knew and as well as myself and my family had the utmost respect for Larry and I think they know that. But I just want to say that publicly. And again, anything I know it's been said again and again and it becomes trite, but anything we can do, we are, we are always here for them. So. And I appreciate the opportunity, Mike. You bet. Thanks again. Thank you. Bye. Head coach Mike Littlewood, Dixie State College Brian's still hanging here with me. Brian, we're going to take a break. Break and we've got some more guys coming up. But it's, it's interesting to see that the same words keep coming up. And you and I kind of sat down actually earlier today and of course with the passing, I guess it really kicks the memories in and you start thinking back and all the things and my gosh, what a part of this area he, Larry Jewell really was and, and as busy as he was and with family and I know he was a bishop in the LDS church. Yes, he was. And he always had time for me. He had time for me when I was starting out as a radio announcer that had dumb question, that had silly questions and you know, you'd think I'd learn from that, but I haven't learned a whole lot. But I'll tell you what, Larry was a guy who made you feel like you were the only one around. Absolutely. Yeah. That's just the kind of guy he was. I, I mentioned earlier that both Brian and I had the. I don't know if it's good or bad. This is Bill Adamson, general manager of the STE. 08:90 KDXU news time. It is now 4. 29. Once again, good afternoon. Welcome. This is the Sports Mike Show. I'm Mike McGarry. Good to have you along with us this morning, a very, very special edition of the Sports Mike show this afternoon. Again, for those who knew the name of Larry Jewell, knew the person, Larry Jewell. He unfortunately passed away earlier today. Larry, a longtime broadcaster Here in southern Utah, longtime sports announcer. He is really synonymous with both broadcasting and sports here in southern Utah. Really was the driving force, go back many years in getting sports broadcasting on the air here in southern Utah for many, many years. And I'm not sure exactly, but in the neighborhood of 16, 17 years, Larry was the voice of the Dixie State College Rebels, then the Dixie College Rebels. And so he's very intimate with the, the program, the school. He knew a lot of the kids, the players. And that's what impressed me most as I had rather dubious honor of following Larry as the voice of the rebel here in the area that he had so much knowledge and as you've heard former, well, not former coaches, but coaches and the people who knew Larry before say that Larry was, he was just sports radio here in the area, had an incredible mind, incredible ability to recall, to bring things to mind and just had the kind of attitude that made you happy to be around him. We're talking with more of people who knew Larry Jewel and I do have coming up in just a moment. I'm right now trying to make contact with David Rose. David was the head coach at Dixie College for I believe, about seven or eight years. Before that he served as an assistant coach here. And of course now he's moved on to Brigham Young University. But he has, I know, a lot of good stories and a lot of good memories about Larry Jolie talking to him. And then we'll want to open it up and offer it to you, the listeners, some of you who may have been around a long time or new award, Larry Joel and his family. And we'll open up and we'll look for some comments from you as well. So that'll be coming up here on the program. 4:31 is the time. And again, just reiterating very quickly, Larry Jewell passing away today. I do not have more information at this time. I'm not sure that the decisions have been made. As far as I know, some will be wondering what about his funeral, where, when and all that kind of information that has not to my knowledge been released and the decisions may not have been made, but when they are, will pass that on to you and just let those that know. But again, I again had the distinct honor of following Larry. Joe, actually Larry and I kind of first crossed paths back in the early 80s. I was the play by play announcer for the Snow College Badgers. Larry, of course, the play by play announcer and announcer here in Utah, 64, the Dixie College Rebels. And it's just one of those cases where you meet him, and immediately he's a longtime friend, and you feel like you've known him that long. He and I talked a lot about sports, a lot about the. The schools and the, you know, the. The games and the things that went on. And then I, fortunately, was able to move to Utah. Dixie actually worked with Larry for quite a few years. And then from that time on, with Larry leaving, I took over and, you know, started doing what he had done for many years, I think. I hope we got it. Here on the phone right now, we have with us Coach David Rose. I hope that's you, Coach. Yeah, it is. How you doing, Mike? Good. I'm really doing good, Coach. Thank you, first of all, for joining us here today. As I just mentioned, Coach, you were former head coach at Dixie College. You served as an assistant coach here, and I know that many of those years, of course, now you've gone on to byu, but you actually traveled with and really knew I pretty intimately. Larry Jewell. Well, you know, I had quite an opportunity to know Larry for quite a while, a few years. I first met Larry when I came to Dixie College in 1977 as a player, and Larry was doing the radio then. And then, of course, I played for Doug Allred, and then I played for Neil Roberts, and then I was an assistant coach for Ken Wagner, and then I was the head coach there for a few years. And so Larry was with us throughout all those times. And he was quite a fixture as far as Dixie College basketball was concerned. He really was. And I would imagine you'd be like most of us that were amazed at his ability to remember details, statistics, game numbers. All you had to do was ask. You know, there's no question that he was. He was the Internet before the Internet came, you know, I mean, you could go to Larry for any information about anything. I probably supplied Larry for, you know, eight, maybe 12, 15 years, media guides from every junior, college and Division 1 program that sent them to me when I was at Dixie, and then even when I got here to byu, I would send him media guides because he just loved information about especially college basketball. And we'd have a guy, you know, one game that might get a triple double or he might do something that, you know, hadn't been done, you know, in 10 years. And he'd always say, well, you know, Coach, that's the first time that that's happened since, you know, Jamal Wilkes did it at UCLA in 1968, you know, and he did know his numbers. But one thing, he loved Dixie College basketball. He loved Dixie College sports. Yeah, absolutely. And for his tenure here, I know that that was his life. He was so involved in that. I gotta admit, as a, as a guy coming in and working with him, I kept thinking, gee, someday I'd like to do that. And boy, Larry kept a very tight grip on that. Now that I'm in that situation, I kind of see. But that was absolutely Larry's life. And, you know, we're traveling around, you know, to Ricks College and to Twin Falls and to North Idaho and, you know, it was back in 1977, you know, 1980, when I got off my mission and it was before cell phones and, and he had a way to get a score out of every gym. You know, a gym in Price, Utah, or a gym in Rangeley, Colorado. He knew a guy that worked at the service station, you know, that was just onto the game. And you know, one thing about Larry is if you needed a score or you needed some type of information, he either knew it right off the top of his head or he knew a way to find out how to get it for you. Yeah, there's no doubt about it. And again, I know it was shocking for me to hear of his passing and yet I think if we've known kind of what he and his family have gone through in the last couple of years that, you know, Larry, Larry, his mind was always there. The body sometimes fails us. And I hope that it's a good thing for Larry, you know, now obviously, but the rest of us, we're the ones that are left behind and we're the ones truly miss him. Yeah. And you know, you feel for his family and you know, you wish them all the best and a way to get through this tough time. But Larry, he's gone on to a whole nother sports venue and you know, he'll. He'll be fine if the people. 890 KDX True News Time 4:42. Good afternoon. Welcome back. Once again, this is the Sports Mic show. Again, a very special edition of Sports Mic. We do apologize a little bit of trouble with our weather today. Kind of a wild thunderstorm rolling in through the area. But again, if you are just joining us here on the program, earlier today we. I received word and many I know have since then received word that a long time announcer, longtime sports broadcaster Larry Jewell passed away earlier this morning complications of cancer and all the attendant things that go along with that. Passed away earlier this morning and thought it was the least I could do. Very apropos to take a look at Larry Jewell through the eyes of many of the people who lived with, worked with Larry Jewell and really knew him in a lot of different ways. We've had coaches coach Greg Croshaw, Dixie State, Mike Littlewood who also was a manager and coach of the Zion Pioneers, the pro league who was here for a while and Brian Benwer, longtime co worker along with myself and Larry Jewell. Of course, we just heard from David Rose who was a head coach, a player assistant coach and a head coach at Dixie College. And Larry, Jill was there through that entire time. I would like to have some other guests as well, but I would like to offer to any of you, if you know Larry Jewell and like to just, you know, maybe add a word to this show today, please, now's the time to give us a call at 673-589-0890. Our toll free number if you're calling us again from outside the immediate dialing area is 888-454-5398. And give us a call here on the program again if you're new, of Larry Jewel, maybe have an interesting anecdote, interesting information to pass along about the, the life of, of Larry Jewell. It's 4:44. I know this guy has known Larry is for quite a few years as well. Andy Griffin joining me here on the air. Andy, how are you doing? I'm doing all right, Mike. I appreciate you letting me take a few minutes here. I haven't known Larry as long as all you guys have, but then I'm not as long in tooth as some of you fellas too. Okay, so you got it in, you got it. I, you know, I've known Larry since I came to Write here about 11 years ago and I became a sports editor. He was the voice of the rebels and like you said, did high school, did American Legion, did it all, didn't he? I remember watching him do a few games with remember the old brick cell phones, those big old giant things you used to have to carry around? Do I ever. I remember him out at Pine View baseball field doing a couple of games out there with that thing. And I just remember sitting there thinking, man, this guy's crazy. But it was a good kind of crazy indeed. The ultimate sports fan is what Larry was. And I had the opportunity of coming on and doing the Pioneers, Mike, while Larry was sick, had a surgery on his brain tumor and boy, what a great experience. Not that I could ever have replaced Larry but, but going after him and talking to all the people who Larry had touched throughout the season and a half or so that he had already been there. It was just phenomenal. The outpouring of love from people who would normally, you think, just be an acquaintance, you know, an assistant media relations guy for the Yuma Bullfrogs, People like that that, you know, you wouldn't think Larry would even hardly know. And they would come up to me, how's Larry? We heard about him. What's going on? We want you to know he was a wonderful guy and we'll miss him. And, you know, I mean, it was unbelievable, the outpouring of love. And you only get that because you give that mike. Absolutely. It was just amazing. It was almost every once in a while, it was even frustrating to me to think, gosh, what can I do to be a better guy so that. That people will respect me and love me like they did? Larry Jewell, because he was just phenomenal. And following him was very humbling for me because he, again, was just one of those guys that touched so many people. And one thing that you talk about, one moment, maybe that you remember. I remember not very long after his surgery, when he was laid up and I was out on the road. I used to call him on occasion, maybe day after a game or in the evening. He would call me sometimes on my cell phone and, you know, just kind of chat with him about how things were going and stuff. And I know it was killing him just to not be out there doing those games. I mean, that was what he lived for. That was his, you know, like little said earlier, that was his thing. That was what he always wanted to do. And to have some bozo like me out there doing it instead was killing him. But yet he took the time to help me. He took the time to not not only to help critique me, but also to compliment me. Yeah. And one of the things I remember, just not very long after a surgery, Larry said. He said, you know, Andy, I really like the way that you can hear the smile in your voice, like you're having a good time. And I. I was stunned that here's this guy who probably was not only in a great deal of physical anguish, but he was in a great deal of mental anguish because he had kind of lost his baby there for a while in the Pioneers, and yet he took the time to tell me that I was doing a great job and that he liked this about what I was doing. And, you know, I had had a post game interview with a player, a pitcher who had pitched a good game, and he told me What a great interview. He thought that was on the air and. And things like that. And, you know, it's something I think we should all strive for. And you and I, Mike, being in this business, we know that there are a lot of people who are the antithesis of Larry Jewell. There's some crummy people in this business and just in the media business in general, but Larry Jewell found a way to rise above all that and be a great guy and still do what he loves and succeed at it. We keep hearing from you, Andy, and from all the others I've spoken with today and from people that I know that know Larry Jewell. And as much as you want to talk about his abilities as an announcer, as a sports broadcaster, each one of us will always turn back to. And what a great man he was, because I think he. He was the consummate professional even in that area. I mean, he loved his family, obviously, he loved you, and he loved your family. And he had a way of letting you know that and really feel that. Absolutely. And he had every reason to maybe not like me. I mean, because here I was taking away something that he had for a little while, and yet he didn't. He was. He was. He was just a great guy about things. And I will say this. You know, the year the Pioneers won the championship was the year he had his surgery. That was the year I came in and filled in for a month or two. I don't even remember how long it was. But he was able to come back, and we broadcast one playoff game together. And then he actually was the guy who did the championship game when Robert Verrell hit that home run and the Pioneers won a championship. I know a lot of people in St. George were actually at that game. It was a big crowd, and he was actually there to do the championship game. You talk about lifelong dream. He wanted to be the voice of a professional baseball team. And I'm sure on top of that, he wanted to call a championship for that team. And even though it was very difficult for him, he was able to do that. And, you know, I think that's something that he held onto even toward the end of his life there. And Larry Jewell, I think, you know, everyone else has said in so many words, but let me say it right out. Larry Jewell will be missed, no doubt about it. Andy, I appreciate you taking time joining us here on the air, because I know you as well as most of us will miss, obviously, Larry, Jill. And wish our best to his family. Yeah, absolutely. Mike, let Me real quickly add I live over by Pineview High School. We're scheduled to do the game tonight here at Pine View. There's been a giant windstorm over here followed by a giant rain and lightning and thunderstorm and so hopefully I know my power's gone out like four times. It's been really interesting trying to listen to your show. I've been watching it go here. We've been off a little bit too. So we'll get it in, we'll get it in. Is mother Nature maybe, maybe Mother Nature's mad that Larry's gone. Could very well be. Andy, thanks so much for joining me here. Thank you, Mike. You bet. Appreciate it. Hi caller, welcome to the sports mic. Hey Mike, it's Barbara. Yeah, hi, good to hear from you. Yeah, I thought I'd better call in. It's been a while since I used to, I want to say this is I, most of us have been here for a year or two would remember you as Barbara Champion on the air. That's right. And I know a long time co worker and good friend of Larry's. Yeah, he holds a real special place in my heart. I know I've talked to several others that used to work. We, well, of course we were a very happy radio family. We were all working together over there and I was just had to had a few thoughts. I remember it was what an honor it was to follow him on the air at middays and he used to cover that midday shift for so many years. And when I first started on deck in the 80s, I, I got this chance to do that. But I was thinking of a cute little quip when Larry Gentry and I were changing shifts on a Saturday, I was coming in, he was going out and it was an evening right after a game that Larry had had been calling and he came in and we thought, well, hey, this is our chance to get a great sports cast. And so we put him back by the old UPI wire and had him pull some scores off and give us a little report. You know, of course he had his own report to give. Well, we thought well maybe, maybe just a minute he would take and 15 minutes later he was pulling off like you say, the golf scores, the bowling scores, anything that had to do with sports at all. And he was still on the air. And I don't know, that just kind of put a chuckle in our hearts, you know, because that was Larry that was lived and breathed it. But there wasn't a nicer guy I've ever known in my life. And I just want to let the public know just what a wonderful person he was both in his home life and at work. And he was a joy to be around. And he was truly a jewel of a man and will be very sorely missed. And we've already missed working with him over these last. We have indeed. Yeah. Oh, what a joyous time that was. So I appreciate this opportunity to just call in and say we all, we all love the Larry and and love his family and are so very grateful to have been able to work side by side with him and share it, a very great life indeed. Barbara, thank you so much for calling today. Thank you. Appreciate that. All right. Bye bye bye. Now, Barbara again was known as Barbara Champion on the air and worked for many, many years. I know, with Larry Jewell. I've known Barbara as well for quite a few years. Just a couple minutes remaining here in our program today in this very special edition of the Sports Mic show. Again, if you are joining us late. And I do realize, folks, that maybe a lot of you are not that well acquainted with Larry Jewell. He has been kind of out of the radio picture for a few years here, but he was so much a part of I mean, I look back and think he was an integral part of getting radio really rolling here in southern Utah, Longtime announcer on KDXU radio. And of course, he was the voice of Dixie College for guessing in the neighborhood of 15 years. And it was indeed a huge honor to follow Larry, Jill, but at the same time a very daunting task to be able to follow in the shoes of Larry Jewell, something that I did and taking over the broadcast at Dixie now Dixie State College. So just a couple minutes remaining. If you again, if you are familiar with Larry, would like to add a word or two today would kind of wind us up here. But certainly your opportunities now yours 673-5890. You can call Star 890 on your cell phone or again from outside the immediate area. Our toll free number is 888-454-5398. Again, Larry Jewell passing away, a young man by all rights in his early to mid-50s and again contracted some sort of a rare cancer years about four years ago this month, at least that's I believe, when it was diagnosed that he was given, by the way, six months to live. But Larry Jewell, like Larry always was, was a fighter, lived for four years for passing away today. Caller, welcome to the Sports Mike. MIKE yeah. My name is Del Mar Gott. I want to tell you something about Jerry, about his humility. Very good. I was keeping score for a high school tournament in fast pitch, oh, three or four years ago. He was on the radio and there was another man on the PA system. And so I could hear what they were both saying. And we had a little discussion, very brief, about whether it was a hit or a fielder's choice. I pointed out to him what was wrong with his decision and he quickly changed it. He didn't mention my name, of course, but after that he asked me again. I've been in softball and baseball since 1936. And he thought maybe I was on authority too. But I really liked the guy. I've been here for 34 years in Southpaw and St. George. Well, you probably heard a lot from Larry, Jill, and knew him. You know, I think you point out a very good thing. As much as I look at him and think he was the consummate professional, Larry never miss an opportunity to learn from those that he really knew. Understood maybe a little bit more than he did. Yeah, he was a humble guy, too. He was indeed. I appreciate that phone call. Thank you. You bet. Thanks so much for calling. Just a couple of minutes remaining here on this Friday afternoon edition of the Sports Mic program. Again, for those that know Larry and the family, as soon as we get more information, I'm sure that the in the newspaper and stuff, as far as his funeral and arrangements, what that's going to be, that will be announced, we will get that on the air to you as soon as we can get that information and get it out to you because I know that many are interested in being able to, you know, to show the family that love and support again. Larry Jewell has been a big influence on my life. There's no doubt about it. As I said, I first met Larry myself while I was in central Utah doing sports at Snow College. He and I crossed paths several times during the years, eventually got to work together and did able to work together for a good long time. And then of course, our paths have since split. But a tough thing to have happen and yet again for Larry's sake himself, hopefully that he is obviously at a much happier place right now and maybe doing more. Someone said earlier on the program that he's probably talking sports right now as well, even though his family and those of us here will miss him, miss him a lot. I would like to thank the special guests today here on the program. Head coach Greg Croshaw, Dixie State College, again, who spent years and years with Larry traveling together. Also, Brian Benware, who is the operations manager here at Simmons Media in St. George and Brian, was hired actually by Larry Jewell about 15, 16, 17, 18 years ago now and got him started here in radio locally. A good friend of his as well, Mike Littlewood, head coach at Dixie State baseball there, also with Zion Pioneers, joined us, David Rose, now an assistant coach, a head assistant coach at Dixie at Brigham Young University and a longtime coach, player and assistant coach here at Dixie College. Andy Griffin also joined us today. Andy has known him for quite a few years. To those, Barbara Champion, Barbara Nilton, I guess now, thanks so much and all those that joined us here on the show again, it was just something when I heard this morning that Larry had passed away after what was a very long and a very valiant fight with, with the cancer. It was something I felt like that was the very least in which I could do to kind of just to show folks again that a great man had passed on. And obviously, again, for those joining, all those who have stated it earlier, to Pam, his lovely wife, and to his family and to all those who will miss Larry Jewell are obviously our big condolences. We hope the best for you and your family in the future. That's going to wind things up here on the Sports Mike Show. Thanks so much for being with us here today. We're back on Monday from 4 until 5 o'. Clock. And as we leave the program here today, I was thinking of what really I could maybe end it all with a statement. And what came back to mind once again was the the way that Larry Jewell ended every broadcast I think I ever heard him do, no matter whether it was college, whatever. And so as we leave, I say until we hear from each other again, again, take care now, you hear.