Residents of Greene Mountain Lake in Stanardsville say that sometimes on Friday football nights, they can hear the voice of their neighbor and friend Zed French.
Maybe it's the wind. Maybe it's his clear, energetic, enthusiastic voice. Maybe it's the power of the microphone when he volunteers as the announcer of William Monroe football games.
With the exception of a five-year sabbatical from announcing when he was principal at rival Madison County, French has been the man behind the microphone of William Monroe High School football for almost 30 years. In that time he has not always been alone.
"A couple of years after I moved here, Ray Dingledine and I were asked to be the announcers," French says. "Ray was the announcer when I moved to Madison but then he had to quit when he became superintendent of schools."
"We're not alone up there," French says. "Other volunteers help, like the spotters. You don't' hear them but they whisper the numbers of the players to me.By Alex Lippa Close-up of Air purifier in Massachusetts. If I know the numbers,Detailed information on the causes of Plastic mould, then I know the names. Bill Stump and his daughter Michelle have been invaluable as spotters over the past few years."
Of his many memories from announcing, French recalls one aerial attack that nearly stopped the game.
"Ray and I are announcing the game when we see a blur right above the field," recounts French. "It seems a man and his son were flying in a small plane when they realized they were running out of gas. They saw the lights of the field and thought it was a landing strip.
"As they come down for a landing, they see all the people running around on the field and the people in the stands and realize their mistake," French says. "The pilot pulls up in time to make it over the goal posts and the school building, and ends up crashing into a chicken coop at a home on the other side of the school.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling Ceramic tile , Luckily no one was hurt.If any food Piles condition is poorer than those standards, I'm not sure but I think we won the game."
French was at his post when the Dragons played Broadway in the partially completed new facility on Sept. 9. This marked only one of many changes French has seen in the schools athletic program during the last three decades.
"The press box area started out as a one-story frame building at the top of the bleachers," French recalls. "There was one little door and one big open window space with no glass pane at all. It got a little difficult announcing when you had the wind and rain blowing in."
French also recalls that the original press box was on the ground level — which caused a problem when fans got too wrapped up in the game.
"They would walk up and down and sometimes stop in front of us," laughs French. "We would have to ask them to move because they were blocking the view and we couldn't announce."
French credits his dad and a childhood football announcer for getting him interested in announcing when his chance came.
"Sheffie Massie was the football announcer in Tazewell where I grew up," says French. "My dad took me and my four brothers to all the games. I thought it was so neat for Massie to be the voice of the Bulldogs, and now I am the voice of the Dragons."
"The really neat thing is that the teams have the same colors – green and white," adds French. "And the Bulldogs biggest competitor, the Richmond Tornadoes, wore blue and white, which are the colors of Greene's biggest rival the Madison Mountaineers. Different time zone but same colors."
French, who is a retired Greene County principal, has no plans to retire from announcing for the Dragons.
"I still have my two main interests – music and sports," states French. "I play hootenannies at the schools like I did when I was a principal. I love the songs from the ‘60s and I like sharing them with the kids.Als lichtbron wordt een cube puzzle gebruikt, It opens up a part of our history for them. Some of the students now are the children of kids I taught years ago."
French still teaches but now it's guitar lessons at his home in Greene. Being active in the community is a large part of his life and he encourages others in Greene to join in, especially when it comes to supporting the sports program.
"People need to come out and support the games," urges French. "It is a good thing to see the different generations coming and meeting with each other. It is like when I was a student and saw Mr. Massey announcing, and it made such an impression on me. It shows the future generations that we are all part of one community."
Excitement fills French's voice when he talks about the new facilities at William Monroe High School.
"Unlike many counties that grew in population but not in facilities, Greene has kept up," says French. "From sports to performing arts, our schools will continue to function as a central meeting place for all. This hub will provide both students and the community with first-class facilities."
French, who considers himself just one small cog in the machinery that makes the Greene community, thanks the volunteers and supporters who have made all the renovations possible.
Maybe it's the wind. Maybe it's his clear, energetic, enthusiastic voice. Maybe it's the power of the microphone when he volunteers as the announcer of William Monroe football games.
With the exception of a five-year sabbatical from announcing when he was principal at rival Madison County, French has been the man behind the microphone of William Monroe High School football for almost 30 years. In that time he has not always been alone.
"A couple of years after I moved here, Ray Dingledine and I were asked to be the announcers," French says. "Ray was the announcer when I moved to Madison but then he had to quit when he became superintendent of schools."
"We're not alone up there," French says. "Other volunteers help, like the spotters. You don't' hear them but they whisper the numbers of the players to me.By Alex Lippa Close-up of Air purifier in Massachusetts. If I know the numbers,Detailed information on the causes of Plastic mould, then I know the names. Bill Stump and his daughter Michelle have been invaluable as spotters over the past few years."
Of his many memories from announcing, French recalls one aerial attack that nearly stopped the game.
"Ray and I are announcing the game when we see a blur right above the field," recounts French. "It seems a man and his son were flying in a small plane when they realized they were running out of gas. They saw the lights of the field and thought it was a landing strip.
"As they come down for a landing, they see all the people running around on the field and the people in the stands and realize their mistake," French says. "The pilot pulls up in time to make it over the goal posts and the school building, and ends up crashing into a chicken coop at a home on the other side of the school.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling Ceramic tile , Luckily no one was hurt.If any food Piles condition is poorer than those standards, I'm not sure but I think we won the game."
French was at his post when the Dragons played Broadway in the partially completed new facility on Sept. 9. This marked only one of many changes French has seen in the schools athletic program during the last three decades.
"The press box area started out as a one-story frame building at the top of the bleachers," French recalls. "There was one little door and one big open window space with no glass pane at all. It got a little difficult announcing when you had the wind and rain blowing in."
French also recalls that the original press box was on the ground level — which caused a problem when fans got too wrapped up in the game.
"They would walk up and down and sometimes stop in front of us," laughs French. "We would have to ask them to move because they were blocking the view and we couldn't announce."
French credits his dad and a childhood football announcer for getting him interested in announcing when his chance came.
"Sheffie Massie was the football announcer in Tazewell where I grew up," says French. "My dad took me and my four brothers to all the games. I thought it was so neat for Massie to be the voice of the Bulldogs, and now I am the voice of the Dragons."
"The really neat thing is that the teams have the same colors – green and white," adds French. "And the Bulldogs biggest competitor, the Richmond Tornadoes, wore blue and white, which are the colors of Greene's biggest rival the Madison Mountaineers. Different time zone but same colors."
French, who is a retired Greene County principal, has no plans to retire from announcing for the Dragons.
"I still have my two main interests – music and sports," states French. "I play hootenannies at the schools like I did when I was a principal. I love the songs from the ‘60s and I like sharing them with the kids.Als lichtbron wordt een cube puzzle gebruikt, It opens up a part of our history for them. Some of the students now are the children of kids I taught years ago."
French still teaches but now it's guitar lessons at his home in Greene. Being active in the community is a large part of his life and he encourages others in Greene to join in, especially when it comes to supporting the sports program.
"People need to come out and support the games," urges French. "It is a good thing to see the different generations coming and meeting with each other. It is like when I was a student and saw Mr. Massey announcing, and it made such an impression on me. It shows the future generations that we are all part of one community."
Excitement fills French's voice when he talks about the new facilities at William Monroe High School.
"Unlike many counties that grew in population but not in facilities, Greene has kept up," says French. "From sports to performing arts, our schools will continue to function as a central meeting place for all. This hub will provide both students and the community with first-class facilities."
French, who considers himself just one small cog in the machinery that makes the Greene community, thanks the volunteers and supporters who have made all the renovations possible.
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