Labor of love coming to an end (11/3)

Posted November 3, 2009 at 1:40 am
Filed Under Sports | 1 Comment

By WARREN ARCENEAUX
AMERICAN PRESS

For more than three decades there has been one constant in the Barbe football program — Warren David calling the action from the press box at home games.

David has been working the microphone for 36 years, outlasting six head coaches and six principals.

This is David’s last season on the job. The school honored him by declaring last Friday, the last home game of the regular season, Warren David Night.

Before the game, David received a plaque commemorating his service. Following the presentation, David returned to the press box to work one quarter before handing off to his successor, Bill Cutrera.

The pregame ceremony is about the only fanfare David has partaken in during his long stint.

“I never was a cheerleader, I was there to tell everybody what just happened, not to give my own comments,” he said. “I always prided myself on doing what I was supposed to do. A lot of announcers abuse the job, make comments about the officials or say inappropriate things. I never do anything like that.”

David ended up with the job after serving one year in the concession stand while his oldest son Dean was a member of the freshman team.

“Several families had boys that played football in 1972 that our kids were all together at Our Lady Queen of Heaven,” he said. “That year, all freshman parents worked the concession stand. The next year the parents called and asked if I would like to do the announcing. I had done a lot of emceeing at programs and events around town already, so that work is how I got the job.”

David took the job seriously, even if he had no intentions on making it a long-term assignment.

“I talked to principal John Nicosia about what an announcer should be so I knew exactly what I was getting into,” he said. “It never cross my mind how long I was going to be there.”

David kept the job through Dean’s playing days, as well as his other son Bryan’s playing days. He was in the booth when daughters Jan and Laura were on the homecoming court, and for dozens of years after that.

No matter what was happening on the field, the crowd got only the facts from David. Even when his sons were involved, David never let his emotions get involved.

“People always asked me how I could do all the announcing while my sons were playing,” he said. “If I wanted to holler and scream and beat on the table, I did with microphone off. People asked how I stayed calm. I told them they just don’t know what I did when the microphone was off.”

David saved the cheering for road trips he made with wife Jo. The most memorable was a trip to New Orleans for a 1980 semifinal game against John Ehret, which the Bucs won with a second-half comeback to reach the championship game. Playoff games with West Monroe and rivalry games against LaGrange also rank among the most memorable for David.

“West Monroe, they always come down with big guys and good players, we have had some emotional games with them, including the quarterfinal last year,” he said.

“The LaGrange games, especially in the middle years, were good games. It looks like LaGrange is back. The game Friday night, they really came to play. That is good.”

In addition to football, David has called track, basketball and a little baseball for Barbe, for many years sandwiching those duties around his day job as manager of a financial company — where he worked for 43 years.

“They were very good to me to allow me to do what I did for Barbe,” he said. “I enjoyed basketball quite a bit, but football was my real passion.”

David said he will not be a stranger following his retirement.

“They tell me I have a lifetime seat in the press box, and I probably will be there most of the time,” he said. “I have formed some close relationships over the years. Some of the current coaches like Mike Cutrera and Chad Grissom played with my sons. It is like a big family at Barbe.”

David’s connections with the school run deep. He lived “a couple of pastures away” while the school was being built and frequently visited to view the progress.

“In the afternoon, I would saddle up a horse and go over to watch the construction,” he said. “Originally, our kids were going to go to St. Louis, but then they announced they were going to build a school right there near us. I have had a close relationship with Barbe since then.”

David’s Friday night allegiances are now split between Barbe and St. Louis, where his grandson Christian is a member of the freshman football team. David is stepping down to have more opportunities to see him play.

“I decided last year, when it was decided Christian would go to St. Louis, that this would be my last year,” he said. “I have followed him since he was a boy and want to continue doing that. I will miss being involved personally, but I will have fun just watching the games. If I don’t feel like paying attention to every play, I won’t have to any more.

“It has been fun, a lot of fun. I have been able to stay close to the athletic department and be a fixture at the school. I tell everyone that I went to Barbe with Dean. He graduated after four years, but I didn’t.”

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Comments

One Response to “Labor of love coming to an end (11/3)”

laura david dunn on November 3rd, 2009 10:34 am

Wonderful article you have written on my Dad. Thank you so very much for taking the time to do so. It means more to him and all of us, than you will ever know!
Sincerely,
Laura David Dunn

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