“He was a great, great broadcaster…but he was a better human being.”
The recent news of the passing of Beaver County Radio’s Bob Barrickman opened the vaults of memory banks all throughout the county, and few had more in their vaults than those who worked alongside him during a sports broadcast. Current Beaver County Radio sports broadcaster Mike Azadian and former Beaver County Radio sports broadcaster Tom Hays reminisced about working with Bob on the December 7 edition of A.M. Beaver County.
Azadian, who joined the BCR Sports staff in 2020, learned very quickly what made Bob stand out as a broadcaster…including the parts where one does not stand out. “He was not about himself, he was about the kids,” Azadian stated. “I learned that it was that…you present the game, you talk about the kids, and you don’t make it about yourself. A lot of people in society today do that, and I learned that from Bob.”
That sense of empathy that Barrickman had towards high school sports and its athletes was also showcased when the game was over and analysis became the focus. “Bob was never really ‘pushy’,” Azadian added. “If a game was a tough game, Bob would ask good questions and tough questions, but he wouldn’t do anything to try and embarrass a coach or a player…he wasn’t about making people look bad.”
The Thursday night broadcast of the PIAA Class 4A football championship between Aliquippa and Bishop McDevitt, which Azadian will call with Bruce Frey, will be dedicated to Bob Barrickman.
The news was even tougher for Tom Hays, who had known Bob since their days in the late 1970s as co-workers for the Beaver County Times, before the future Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame Broadcaster (Bob in 2008) would recruit the future Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame Broadcaster (Tom in 2019) to join Beaver County Radio in the mid-1980s. From then until Hays’ retirement in 2020, the duo called countless championship and playoff (let alone regular season) contests in basketball, football, and other sports for Beaver County Teams.
“Bob was the absolute best,” Hays stated. “His passion for Beaver County high school sports [was] second to none. His knowledge is unbelievable. His preparation was unbelievable. I mean, I put a lot of time into every broadcast that I did…but Bob probably doubled that amount of preparation time.”
More so than the legendary broadcaster, Tom remembers Bob as a man without few rivals in Beaver County.
“He was a great guy, and that is not a cliché. That is a fact. Beaver County has lost a legend…I don’t think, in my life, I’ve ever met a finer gentleman than Bob Barrickman.”
Thursday’s Teleforum talk program with Eddy Crow begins with the state reps! Rapping with the Reps starts the day at 9, then later the Best of Beaver County comes by at 11-Mike Romigh will welcome holiday music from the Beaver School district chorus! After the live concert Beaver County Times entertainment editor Scott Tady drops in to talk other concerts happening this holiday season! Teleforum holds forth every weekday from 9 till noon on am1230, am1460, fm99.3, and fm95.7-All presented by St. Barnabas!
By BROOKE SCHULTZ and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democrats who barely won back enough seats in the Pennsylvania House in November are moving to control the chamber to replace one of their incumbents who died and two others who won higher office. Shortly after Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia was sworn in on the House floor on Wednesday, she scheduled special elections for Feb. 7 for all three seats. The top Republican leader is calling it an “illegal and unprecedented power grab” based on a specious claim to the majority. McClinton says she will serve as acting speaker until the chamber will vote on a new speaker when it reconvenes for swearing-in on Jan. 3.
FILE – In this photo released by the U.S. Navy, the destroyer USS Shaw explodes after being hit by bombs during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. A few centenarian survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor are expected to gather at the scene of the Japanese bombing on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, to remember those who perished 81 years ago. (U.S. Navy via AP)
By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — A handful of centenarian survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor are expected to gather at the scene in Hawaii to commemorate those who perished 81 years ago in the Japanese bombing. That’s fewer than in recent years, when a dozen or more came from across the country to pay their respects at the annual remembrance ceremony. Part of the decline reflects the dwindling number of survivors as they age. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doesn’t have statistics for how many Pearl Harbor survivors are still living. But its data show the number of World War II veterans is rapidly declining.
(Wayne Twp., Lawrence County, Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were called to West Lawrence Ave in Wayne Twp at 11:50 AM on December 5, 2022 for a report of a real estate sign being stolen.
Troopers said via release that the theft occurred approximately between Oct 31 and November 14, 2022. The sign was from Advantage Real Estate that is blue with white lettering. The sign was located on a property that is for sale.
The investigation is ongoing and Troopers are asking anyone with information to call them at 724-598-2211.
Story by Beaver County Radio Staff (Little Beaver Twp, Lawrence County, Pa.) Pa State Police in New Castle are reporting that they were called to State Line Road in Little Beaver Twp., Lawrence County at 11:51 PM Sunday night for reports of a possible stolen vehicle
Troopers said via release that a 41-year-old female from East Liverpool Ohio told them that her 1999 Lexus RX300 was missing from where she last parked it. Upon further investigation it was determined that her ex-boyfriend used the vehicle without her permission. The vehicle was located and recovered by Troopers. The investigation into this incident is continuing.
His voice was first heard over the airwaves on September 13, 1980. It was a day that changed the sound of sports coverage in Beaver County. That was the day when Freedom traveled to Western Beaver for a Saturday afternoon football game and Ambridge radio station, WMBA, was on site to broadcast the action. Up in the press box, a youthful Bob Barrickman joined Mike Shineberg as a color analyst. It was the beginning of a storied broadcasting career for Barrickman that spanned over a thousand games and forty years. Bob’s unique, enthusiastic and very recognizable delivery was heard as recently as part of the WPIAL football championship pre game show broadcasts on WBVP and WMBA. Sadly, the mute button on Bob’s microphone has been permanently pushed. Tuesday morning the beloved sports announcer passed away. He was 67.
2015 WBVP-WMBA staff photo of Bob Barrickman.
Bob Barrickman grew up in Industry, PA and graduated from Beaver Area High school. Afterwards he earned a degree in communications from Slippery Rock University. In addition to his radio announcing, Bob was also a skillful sports writer and contributor for the Beaver County Times. But, it was when he put on a sports headset in the press box or courtside at a high school game that his impact became the greatest. Part of it was Barrickman’s love of broadcasting and his dedication to the craft. Part of it was his devotion to high school sports. The mix of the two qualities proved to be a combination that would touch the lives of nearly everyone in Beaver County over Bob’s career. Fellow broadcaster Chris Shovlin noted: “I don’t know anyone that was more passionate about high school athletics in Beaver County. Nobody had more passion than Bob.” In addition to calling high school games, one of the things Barrickman became most known for was hosting the weekly “Coaches Corner” live broadcast on WBVP and WMBA.
Coaches Corner, March 1997 at Robert’s Roadside Inn, Bridgewater, PA. Clockwise around table: Brad Hays, Tom Hays, Bob Barrickman, Marcus Moore and Bruce Frey. In background L-R: Aliquippa Player, Brian Cureton, Mike Zmijanac, Sherman McBride, Jerry “Mole” Malesky and Dave Wytiaz (in white shirt).
For over thirty years, high school coaches and players were Bob’s guests on the program during sports seasons for lively conversation and great pizza and wings. For a long time, “Coaches Corner” was broadcast live from Robert’s Roadside Inn in Bridgewater. Robert Skerlec, owner of Robert’s Roadside Inn, remembered Bob Barrickman as “A man of Integrity and a super competitive Scrabble player.” Skerlec and Barrickman also played weekly scrabble games prior to the Wednesday evening “Coaches Corner” shows.
1991 WBVP sports announcers including Bruce Frey, Mike Young, Bob Barrickman and Tom Hays pose for a photo in the control studio.
The news of Bob’s passing has caused many people in Bob’s extended “radio family” to reflect on his life, his work and what he meant to others. Current WBVP-WMBA program director Frank Sparks said: “I never in my life have met anyone like Bob Barickman. His passion for sports and friendship was like no other. Bob Barrickman is a true legend in Beaver County sports. If You wanna know anything about High School Sports, past and present, Bob was your guy. Bob’s passion for broadcasting was apparent in every broadcast whether it was a touchdown, a sack, or a slam dunk.”
This past September, Bob Barrickman spoke to St. Barnabas Broadcasting, Inc. CEO, Mr. William Day, as he visited the press box at Oak Hill Field in New Brighton prior to a high school football game with Rochester. Other WBVP-WMBA staffers in the photo include John Perotto and Curtis Walsh.
Whether it’s a testament to Bob Barrickman’s long lasting broadcasting career, or the high quality of high school teams that seem to emanate from Beaver County every year isn’t completely clear. Either way, the amazing fact is that Bob called the action of over 60 high school state championship games. One of those earlier state championship broadcasts was when Bob Barrickman Joined Mark Razz in the booth for the 1988 high school football 3A state Championship. That year, the Aliquippa Quips were upset by A Berwick Bulldog team led by future West Virginia quarterback, Jake Kelchner. Luckily, there would be many other memorable game broadcasts along the way. Here is a small sampling of Bob Barrckman audio highlights:
In 2008, Bob Barrickman was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame. More ceremonies followed. In 2020 Barrickman was inducted into the Slippery Rock University Communications and Media Department Hall of Fame. Bob was also the voice of Geneva College athletics on WBVP and WMBA for the past three decades. His devotion to the Golden Tornado broadcasts was recognized by Achievement In Radio (AIR). His devotion to Geneva College throughout that time period earned him a “G Award” from Geneva College in 2012.
Outside of the time Bob spent broadcasting games, Bob used his talents in other ways to help the people of Beaver County. He served as the Emcee of the Outstanding Young Woman and Junior Miss programs and helped organize weekly volleyball leagues at Robert’s Roadside Inn. In 2015, Bob was recognized by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce with a Community Service Award.
It’s hard to imagine a big high school football game happening without Bob Barrickman. He had become the voice of Beaver County sports for generations. So, don’t think it strange if on Thursday night during the Aliquippa-Bishop McDevitt state championship football broadcast on WBVP and WMBA, you happen to hear a little thunder that sounds alot like play by play coming down from the great press box in the clouds.
Underneath the chaos of the national headlines that dominated the year 2020, a local change to law enforcement has anchored a multi-year progression for the Ambridge Borough Police Department.
That change came when the then-chief of the Beaver Falls PD, John DeLuca, was hired by the Ambridge PD in that same position (interim until 2021). Two and a half years later, the police staff has increased to 21 members, including a jump from 8 to 15 full-time staff. Chief DeLuca spoke to Matt Drzik about this and more during a sit-down on the December 5 edition of A.M. Beaver County.
Ambridge’s staff also includes several officers designed to focus on drug crimes in the borough, and two full-time SROs working at Ambridge High School. But other municipalities near Ambridge–particularly Conway, Baden, and Freedom–are short-staffed to the point of serious merger consideration. Chief DeLuca knows this and says that his staff is willing to help out when needed (and vice versa: “They kind of go back and forth; if we need them or they need us. We kind of bounce back and forth together.”
To watch the full interview with Chief DeLuca, click on the Facebook feed below!
Story by Beaver County Radio Staff (Chippewa Twp., Beaver County) Ryan Hardesty, a history teacher at Highland Middle School in the Blackhawk School District has been named as the 2023 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.
Hardesty received the award yesterday at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. He was one of 12 teachers from across the state who were nominated for the award that is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the state chapter of the National State Teacher of the Year.
Story by Sandy Giordano, Beaver County Radio News (Beaver, Pa.) Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabuaer has identified the victim of a fire that occurred Just after 10 p.m. on Sunday night in Chippewa Township. Gabauer said via release that 67-year-old Rebecca Crawford was pronounced dead at the scene of the fire at 100 Woodland Road in the township. When first responders arrived they found Crawford unresponsive in the home that suffered severe damage from the fire. Gabauer said the cause and manner of Crawford’s death is still under investigation.
