BY DAN HILDEBRAN
For over 15 years, Bob Kinsey called football games for Keystone Heights High School. After “the voice of the Indians left,” the school named the press box in his honor and assigned Ron Hartman to fill Kinsey’s shoes.
Hartman said he sees himself as carrying on the legacy that Kinsey began.
Two of his most treasured possessions are his predecessor’s microphone and travel bag, which Kinsey’s widow gave to him.
Hartman teaches chemistry, physics, and other sciences at the high school. He also coached golf for over a decade and operated the scoreboard for basketball games, working with Kinsey courtside.
The scoreboard job eventually led to his gig in the football press box.
“I was the scoreboard operator for basketball with Bob,” Hartman recalled, “And then I would also help him spot when other people were not able to make games.”
The science instructor added that when Kinsey missed a season calling baseball games due to illness, Hartman stood in for him.
“When he got sick, he asked me to take over for him, which was very special,” Hartman said. “After he died, his wife asked to meet with me, and she said that she wanted me to have his bag that he announced with as well as the microphone.”
Hartman said the joy of the job is watching the athletes and interacting with the students.
“They love to hear their names called out,” he said of the athletes. During the school day, they will walk up to me and say, ‘You called my name last night. You called my name last night.’”
Hartman also said he enjoys working with his scoreboard operator, Sherman Carnes.
“We have a pretty good time up here,” Hartman admitted.
Carnes teaches honors chemistry on the Orchid Avenue campus, in addition to standard and honors Algebra II.
He calls volleyball games in the gym and flag football games from the press box. He also coaches the school’s robotics team and emcees the Miss Keystone Heights High School Scholarship Pageant.
“This year, I’ll probably also be announcing girls’ basketball,” he said.
Carnes said he is active in extracurriculars because it’s his way of honoring the students.
“At Keystone Heights, the culture is such that our highest-performing students are also some of our best athletes,” he said. “It’s a way to give them our support in everything that they do.”
Carnes is now in his fifth year at KHHS.
