Powerful Voice for High School Sports
December 19, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Paul Carey was home from the U.S. Army only a few months and just shy of 25 years old when Beal City embarked on its first trip deep into the MHSAA boys basketball tournament.
On the call for local radio station WCEN from gyms at Saginaw Arthur Hill and Lansing Sexton, Carey served as the voice of the previously “laughable” Aggies as they reached the Class D Semifinals before falling just six points short of playing for the title.
“All of Beal City emptied out. They’d never had anything before,” Carey recalled during his annual Thanksgiving weekend visit to the MHSAA Football Finals at Ford Field. “When I got home, within the next two weeks I got a letter from every citizen of Beal City thanking me for broadcasting their games. That’s the kind of appreciation that meant so much.”
During 42 years on the airwaves, Carey was best known as a voice of the Detroit Tigers bounding out of transistor radios all over Michigan, thanks to WJR’s powerful signal.
But for the state’s high school sports community, his legacy is similarly memorable as the voice of the longtime football and basketball scoreboard show and a voter for various all-state teams and wire polls over the decades.
Now 86 and retired since 1991, Carey remains a regular during the first day of the Football Finals, taking in games he broadcast for the MHSAA during the late 1970s and that continue to hold his eye as they have for more than a half-century.
“It was a passion of mine. High school sports always has been,” Carey said. “I think because my dad was a high school coach, and teacher initially, and my brother was a high school coach and teacher, I just grew up in families that appreciated coaching and athletics. I was not a great athlete, but it kept my hand in following sports that way.”
Now, the scores
Carey partnered with Ernie Harwell for Tigers radio broadcasts from 1973-91, including during the march to the 1984 World Series championship. He was named Michigan Sportscaster of the Year six times and to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
But Carey’s early career included sitting on top of a car, plugged into a phone pole, for a Sacred Heart football game at old Fancher Field just a few blocks from his family’s Mount Pleasant home. Among many more accolades are a Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan High School Coaches Association and a place in the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame.
In fact, the start of his weekly announcing of statewide football and basketball scores preceded his baseball career by 16 years and ended two months after he announced his final professional out.
The Michigan High School Scoreboard show was a staple of WJR’s late Friday nights from 1957-91. Carey would read every score he could collect from a variety of sources, often organized by league and with state rankings and context mixed in.
His idea came from something similar read by Len Colby for Kalamazoo’s WKZO. Carey’s brother Terry was coaching at Niles during the second half of the 1950s, and he and other coaches would get together to listen to the Friday night scores from the southwestern part of the state.
Carey, who left WKNX in Saginaw for WJR in 1956, explained to then-sports director Bob Reynolds that the station’s strong signal could provide for a truly statewide scoreboard experience.
Carey then connected with Edgar Hayes of the former Detroit Times, who gave the OK for Carey to call the paper on Friday nights to get scores from the Detroit metro area. For the rest, Carey relied on wire services – there were three at the time – who relied on newspapers from all over Michigan to call in scores over the course of an evening.
Before every Friday during high school football season – and later Tuesdays and Fridays during boys basketball season – Carey typed up lists of games based on schedules in the newspaper, with spaces to add scores. More than a few times, Carey raced down a back ramp at Tiger Stadium after a Friday night game, back to the WJR studio, with 15 minutes to prep for the show’s 11:30 p.m. start.
“If the Flint Journal, the Grand Rapids Press, the Traverse City paper didn’t call in scores to the AP, then I was out of luck too. And that happened all the time,” Carey said. “I would call back occasionally, say, ‘Did you get anything more?’ It was a rat race.”
The show originally was set for 10 minutes and then extended to 15. American Airlines sponsored a record show that followed, and Carey’s scoreboard show had a sponsor only once in 35 years. Finishing up on time was expected, even with more than 200 scores to read.
But Carey said he always went 20 minutes, sometimes 25.
“Because I wasn’t done. I just kept right on going,” Carey said. “Jay Roberts did the all-night show most of the time, and he was patient with me. He didn’t say too much on the air about ‘that guy ahead of me took all of my time.’”
Carey continued the “rat race” until his final scoreboard show, Dec. 20, 1991. He retired from WJR at the end of that calendar year. And it's important to note: Carey was never paid a dime extra for doing the program. .
“I think Paul is really just a sports fan, and that came across to the listener on his broadcasts,” MHSAA historian Ron Pesch said. “Paul would gather as much as possible off the wire. He'd interject if scores were missing from sections of the state. Press polls from the Free Press, News, AP and UPI were big, so he could point out close calls and upsets.
“He provided immediacy, or the closest thing to it in the days before cable TV and the Internet, and because of his scoreboard show, you could get the results before the morning paper. For listeners, he brought life to something as simple as game scores.”
First team all the way
Carey, who resides in Rochester, also served as the engineer on Tigers broadcasts for 16 years, through 1990. He broadcast Pistons games on the radio for six seasons and did the first broadcast of a Central Michigan University football game, in 1949.
Harry Atkins, covering Detroit’s teams while with The Associated Press for 29 years including the last 21 as its sports editor for Detroit, took note of his colleague's hard work – and especially that Carey was one of few broadcasters who was a journalist in addition to a voice.
That made Carey's other major role in high school sports a natural fit.
Atkins split The Associated Press all-state selection panels for football and basketball into 11 regions, and Carey represented the Detroit area for a number of years. He also was a longtime voter in those sports' weekly polls.
“Paul is just that kind of guy. He thought it was important and he made time in his busy schedule to do it,” Atkins said “And it had an impact on the other 10 voters on the All-State panels, too.
“Some of them were from small out-state newspapers or radio or TV stations. Yet every one of them knew who Paul Carey was. And when he spoke, of course, with what often is called "The Voice of God," those voters paid attention.”
And he still does, as well.
At the end of each fall, Carey still puts together a compilation of the three high school all-state football teams – Associated Press, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News – and files them with years of research and results.
“It’s important to me. Nobody sees it but me, but I get a certain kick,” Carey said. “Once in a while I’ll see a kid playing at Central, Western or (Michigan) State or Michigan, and they’ll say he came from Clawson. I’ll go into my all-state collections, say that would’ve been 2009 he played, and I find a name.”
In addition to the Football Finals on WJR, Carey was part of the Baseball Finals broadcasts into the early 1990s, continuing to contribute even after his retirement from his fulltime gig.
He spent high school games over the years sitting next to legends like the Free Press’ Hal Schram and remembers when current Free Press longtime scribe Mick McCabe was just a rookie. One of Carey's final broadcasts was a 1992 Baseball Final with his nephew Mike Carey, who continues to broadcast MHSAA championship games to this day.
“I am eternally grateful to Paul Carey. His contribution to high school sports in Michigan has been great and significant,” Atkins said.
“We are lucky to have him.”
PHOTO: Paul Carey (left) and nephew Mike Carey broadcast the MHSAA 1992 Class D Baseball Final between Hillman and Athens for PASS.
English's Hall of Fame Contributions to St. Francis Continue Behind Camera Lens
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
October 9, 2025
The name Julie English is now synonymous with Traverse City St. Francis football.
English spent her first two decades contributing to the school behind the scenes, helping the Gladiators launch boys and girls soccer programs, and scoring volleyball and basketball. She served as team manager for boys and girls soccer and even bus driver, so to speak, for the latter.
She’s also very noticeable on the sidelines of football, soccer and volleyball games, taking pictures with the aid of a motorized wheelchair.
This past Saturday, she was front and center. She was inducted into the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools Hall of Fame – established in 2007 to recognize individuals who inspire others by being exemplary role models.
English was paralyzed 10 years ago as she reached the end of a zip line while chaperoning a girls soccer team trip weeks ahead of the 2015 season. Many recall snow on the ground as she went first, intending to take pictures of the team as they planned to follow. She decided to go first that March day despite a fear of heights.
“It was all part of God's plan because I am afraid of heights – I really had to talk myself into going on the zip line,” said English, who considers it a freak accident and doesn’t discourage anyone from giving zip lining a try. “I was thinking, you know, I'm trying to convince these girls to step outside their comfort zone. And if I'm too afraid to do something like that, what kind of an example am I? So I breathed it and went up and actually it was fun – until it wasn't.“
Past TCSF athletic director Tom Hardy introduced English at the induction ceremony last weekend. He lauded the “amazing women he had the privilege” of working with during his 18-year tenure.
“While such a devastating event might have broken many, it only served to strengthen Julie's unwavering faith,” Hardy said. “She approaches each day with grace, fully aware of the challenges ahead, yet she embraces them with joy, love, and laughter. Following her accident, Julie dove deeper into her passion of photography.”
English now generously volunteers her time capturing St. Francis athletic events and creating lasting memories for students and their families through her lens, leaving school officials, coaches, players and supporters in awe.
Current TCSF athletic director Aaron Biggar has personally been touched by English’s work, through her photographs of his boys playing football for St. Francis. He’s thrilled to have English for home game, and she also travels to – and is welcomed by – volleyball, football and soccer opponents.
“Julie’s ability to capture those life events for parents who are watching the game and not taking pictures, has been such a gift for our community,” Biggar said. “She's been around so long and (is) so accepted by our community. And even by opposing teams, they allow her to be on the field and make precautions and stuff so she can. Our opponents in other schools have also been so accommodating of her and helping.”
English was at Thirlby Field last week capturing the Glads’ big Homecoming win over Boyne City, 20-13. She won’t be on the road tonight as the Glads put their undefeated football record on the line against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep. But she will be back on the football sidelines Oct. 18 when St. Francis hosts Jackson Lumen Christi. And she’ll also be on the sidelines next week when the boys soccer team continues what it hopes will be another deep run into the postseason.
English’s humility, deep faith, and enduring optimism have had a profound and lasting impact, supporters note. Not surprisingly, her biggest concern as she takes pictures today is not her safety – it is the safety of the home and visiting athletes.
“I think sometimes I make people nervous, but I am always cognizant of what's going on, because the last thing I want to do is hurt anybody, like, have them run into me and then get hurt,” English said. “I want to be where I can get a good picture, but definitely not where someone could get injured if they ran into me.”
English’s photos are treasures for St. Francis families, points out Mike Kanitz, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside English. In fact, he nominated her. Kanitz is the junior varsity girls basketball coach, volleyball game manager, volleyball announcer and volleyball scorekeeper, football press box manager, and the Glads’ soccer game manager.
“Julie’s ability to capture time for SF families, I mean, is priceless,” said Kanitz, who also can be found at the scorer’s table for boys basketball. “She catches kids in their level of joy, and it's cool. It's a snapshot in time, and she does it for every family. I mean, this is all free. She posts it all free. She doesn’t charge anybody. And she she's such a hard worker. She's everywhere.”
Kanitz vividly recalls English’s efforts to bring soccer to St. Francis. It happened in 2002. The Glads first had a club team coached by volunteer Reggie Rix.
“She had to fight some hurdles and it was a lot of work, and to start a new sport – her vision was the correct vision,” Kanitz said. “There were coaches, but Julie was really the one that took care of everything. Julie was fair to all children. She wanted all kids to have that good experience of high school sports.”
Kanitz, one of many who regularly see English’s photos and read her inspiring messages on social media, finds it difficult to think about the zip line accident. His daughter was one of the St. Francis soccer players waiting to come down the line next.
“It's still hard for me to actually think about and talk about, but Julie's handled it better than anybody,” he said. “Her faith in God is so strong, and her message she writes … these Facebook stories about where she's at in her journey … they're moving and people read them, and it affects people.”
Early on, Julie recognized the vital importance of a Catholic education for her children and committed herself wholeheartedly to making it a reality, Hardy recalled. In addition to operating a full-time in-home daycare for more than 30 years, she worked weekends to help make ends meet and ensure that her four children – Ian, Caitlin, Jordan and Chelsea – remained enrolled in the Catholic schools.
As the owner of a daycare business, English drove a 12-passenger blue van. She often emptied the car seats in time to get 11 players – including Caitlin and Chelsea – to soccer games wherever TCSF was playing.
Caitlin English played on the first TCSF girls soccer team in 2002. She presented Hardy with a petition to offer soccer, signed by St. Francis athletes. As a club, English is proud to say, the team won all 17 of its games. When soccer became a school-sponsored varsity sport a year later, it was a cooperative with Traverse City Christian called Liberty.
Ian English was on the field for St. Francis boys’ first game, played through a co-op also with TC Christian during the fall of 2008. Chelsea English also played soccer for the Glads. Jordan English played rugby.
Ian, Jordan and Chelsea were at Julie’s induction ceremony. Caitlin, now living in the Grand Rapids area, was unable to attend because she is coaching soccer for her own daughter, Emilia, although Julie’s son-in-law did attend.
English gets around today with a vehicle adapted for her. She is supported regularly by Ian and Chelsea, along with a mother of nearby Kingsley High School athletes. She’s been spotted on the sidelines taking pictures at Kingsley volleyball and soccer matches, too. English also has been able to get to Grand Rapids and capture her granddaughter’s early soccer days with her camera.
She is enjoying a new beginning with soccer as well as her newer role for the Glads.
“Back in the day, I was able to run the clock, take pictures and do the book,” English said. “I don't think my brain would handle all of that now, but, you know, it was it was fun to do at the time. Not being able to do daycare anymore and not being able to do the things I did at St. Francis are the hardest things about being in a wheelchair – just not being able to do all the things I used to do.”
This spring marked the 10-year anniversary of the accident. English said she never asks, “Why me?” Rather, she is determined to can find the good and take advantage it.
Hardy agreed.
“Julie has said, ‘Never doubt who and what God puts in front of you,’” Hardy said. “This encapsulates the guiding ethos of her life.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Longtime Traverse City St. Francis supporter Julie English readies for her next shot while attending a Gladiators football game this season. (Middle) English captures a few frames. (Below) English recently was inducted into the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools Hall of Fame. (Top two photos by Rick Sack/TC Rick Photo. Below photo by Tom Spencer.)