On Feb. 4 during the Pioneer Conference Tournament games, Johnson-Brock alumni Ronnie Meyer was honored for his 50 years of keeping the scoreboard and time clock for Johnson-Brock High School sports. Meyer was presented with a stadium seat during halftime of the game and a basketball signed by the members of both the Johnson-Brock boys and girls basketball teams, the coaches and Johnson-Brock administration.
When asked about one of his most memorable games keeping the score and clock, Meyer told of a time in the original Johnson-Brock gym when a deflected pass flew directly at the scorekeepers. The ball very nearly hit Meyer in the head, flying just to the side and skimming his ear. Meyer also recalled how the stats used to be kept, especially the poles used to show how many fouls a player has committed, as well as when the score and time were kept separately, and when they were combined. Nowadays, Meyer keeps the score and time on a computer that, while it does make some things easier, he claims is harder to correct a mistake once it has been entered.
Sam Smith, Meyer’s right hand man both literally, as he sits to Meyer’s right, and metaphorically, handles the physical score book. It was mentioned that while there is very little chitchat between the men while they’re working a game, they are sure to keep each other accurate. “You have to pay close attention to the referees,” Meyer explained, “I focus on whistles and their hand signs, for the most part.” He then went on to say that working the scoreboard requires all five of the senses. Seeing and hearing are used to acknowledge the referee’s various signals and when the clock should start and stop. Touch is used when working the scoreboard’s controls. Taste comes with Meyer’s traditional Peanut M&M’s and Pepsi that he enjoys during the games. Meyer’s sense of smell is used, though maybe not necessarily desired, when the sweaty ball players get closer to the score table.
