Legendary status: McBride is staple in Greenfield-Central athletics

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Larry McBride, G-C clock operator, watches the action and works the clock during a Greenfield-Central girls JV basketball game on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

 

GREENFIELD — To define Larry McBride as the long-time Greenfield-Central athletics clock operator is a tremendous understatement of the contributions the Cougars Hall of Famer has given to the school’s sports programs.

McBride has handled game clock operator duties for 50 years, a remarkable feat in its own, beginning with middle school football and expanding to high school football along with boys and girls basketball, but he has provided so much more to those that know him.

His 2011 Cougars Hall of Fame inductee plaque in the G-C gym states his nickname, and how he has contributed more than just his part in game administration.

It reads: “Spartacus” is also known for the many positive notes he has sent to students, athletes, coaches, teachers, parents and administrators over the years.

Teaching, coaching, scorekeeping, announcing and his positive attitude have been a part of the Greenfield-Central Schools for more than half a century.

He was hired as a teacher at Eden Elementary in 1964. He was there until 1969, also coaching fifth- and sixth-grade basketball, before moving to Maxwell Middle School where he taught until retiring in 2005.

He began operating the clock at middle school football games in 1970. In 1980, then G-C athletic director Don Pfaff asked him if he would like to work the clock at the high school games, the previous clock operator had retired.

McBride — who turned 80 in August — with the support of his wife of 56 years, Rita, has been doing it ever since, adding boys basketball in the 1980s, girls basketball in the early 2000s.

He also handles announcing at the middle school and high school track and field meets and has done some scorekeeping, too.

“In 1980 when I started doing high school (games) I thought this might go for four or five years and they’ll get somebody else,” McBride said. “When Mr. Pfaff retired, I told the new athletic director if somebody wants to do the job, you don’t have to worry about me, I would gladly step aside, but it never came up.”

Current athletic director Jared Manning is in his seventh year at the school. He’s a G-C grad and a former Cougars basketball, soccer and baseball player. He has known Larry and his importance to the Greenfield community and its schools for a long time.

“As an AD, it’s always good to have good help. In Larry’s case, we have great help,” Manning said.

He calls McBride the “face of G-C athletics” and a “staple” of the athletic program.

More than just helping events run smoothly, Manning said McBride has added so much more.

Manning admits there have been some tough times during his tenure as AD, but the encouragement from McBride to him, student-athletes and coaches has been a godsend.

“I know he has helped me in my career,” Manning said. “Just having him around is really nice. There are not enough good things to say about him and what he has done for our student-athletes, coaches and administrators.

“He’s consistently supportive of our programs. There’s no secret we’ve had some ups and downs the last 5-6 years, every time we talk he always has a positive spin he puts on anything that has happened with what our coaches or teams are going through.”

McBride said his love of sports goes back to his older brother, Robert (who passed away in 2003). He said Robert, who was five years older, was a good athlete and the two of them were both big sports fans. “You always want to do what your older brother does.”

He said his positive attitude goes back to the way he was brought up, growing up in Gary, Indiana.

His nickname Spartacus comes from the message from the movie of the epic 1960s movie, starring Kirk Douglas and the message it sent.

“It’s about freedom. He was a slave, a gladiator and he took on the Roman army for freedom. I always like that story about freedom and liberty and how important that is,” the former Social Studies and Geography teacher said. “I thought it was good movie because no matter what, you could always be optimistic about being free, which is pretty important.”

Clock operating has not been a job to McBride. Fifty years in, he still enjoys it.

He has seen a lot of great athletes and great games over the years and said he appreciates the efforts the kids put in to sports they love to play.

“Most of (the student-athletes) aren’t going to get scholarships or get the big bucks from playing sports,” he said. “They play the sport because they like doing it.

“Greenfield has had a lot of great athletes and they’ve had some offseasons, but the kids always play hard and I’ve always admired that. They do the best they can. Even if they have losing seasons, they come out and play hard. That’s always kept my interest. In addition, so many people have been supportive and encouraging.”

McBride said he has seen it on both sides, enjoying the rivalries created over the years with other teams in the county like Mt. Vernon and New Palestine and nearby conference foe Pendleton Heights.

“Goodness knows I’ve seen some of the best players from all over the state,” McBride said. “Living in Hancock County for 45 years, Hancock County has had a lot of great coaches, and great athletes. It’s been amazing one single county out of 92 has had so many good athletes and teams. It’s a credits to families, student-athletes and coaches. That’s been impressive.”

He said he plans on continuing his duties until he feels, or the schools feel, he’s not doing a good job. He loves doing it and watching the Cougars compete.

“At my age, each day is a gift, is the way I look at it,” he said. “I don’t take any day for granted. I plan to go on as long as they think I’m doing a good job.

“I’m assuming I’m doing a reasonably good job or someone would have told me. Certainly there will come a time that I’m not doing the job or not doing the job I feel I should be doing. I don’t know how much longer (I’ll be doing it) to be honest, but I don’t take any day for granted.”

The Greenfield-Central community doesn’t take his efforts and support for the athletic programs for granted either.

“We (cherish) it,” Manning said. “We appreciate all time and effort he has put into it.

“(Doing this for 50 years) shows his love for not only the community but our school and student athletes. His commitment to students, coaches, our programs, school, community, these type of people are few and far between. I don’t know if we’ll ever see anyone be as involved and committed.”