Cary Howard has the reputation of being the “Clock Man” of Leslie (Mich.) High School football.
Howard has run the football clock at Leslie High School, located outside of Lansing, for 34 years, and has run the clock for boys and girls basketball for 33 years. He recently was honored as an honorary member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
Howard has lived in Leslie his entire life. He’s a full-time pastor and has is own business. The 1974 Leslie graduate played football, basketball and baseball in high school. He was an All-America honoree in football and earned all-league honors in that sport and in baseball. In football, he was a nose guard, offensive guard and linebacker.
“All of my kids went through Leslie,” he said. “My daughters were both softball pitchers. My son was a baseball and basketball player, plus a golfer. He was all-league in baseball and golf while my daughters were all-league in softball.”
About 34 years ago, Howard found himself working the clock at Leslie football games, and hasn’t changed his seat location since.
“I had a good friend up in the press box doing the clock even while I was still in high school,” he said. “He asked that when I graduated if I would run the board while he ran the clock. In basketball, I do everything.”
Now as the clock operator, Howard keeps a steady eye on the referee to effectively run the clock.
“You’d like to watch the game, but you have to pay attention to what the officials do,” Howard said. “I think I’ve missed only three home games in 30 some years. I had a fishing trip one of those times and another time, my son was born on a game night. Those are the only games I’ve missed.”
Leslie has enjoyed memorable moments on the football field.
“My brother played on the 1983 team that went to the state quarterfinals,” Howard said. “That was a real good season. It’s exciting to get that far in the playoffs.”
Howard has had several unusual moments in the press box.
“One time I was running the clock and an assistant football coach from the other team didn’t like the way I was keeping it,” Howard said. “I found out later he was a football coach. A month later, I was working for a guy who needed some patchwork done in his bathroom. I went over there and believe it or not, it was the guy we had kicked out of the press box. It was awkward. But I had to go there. It was kind of funny.”
Howard finds manning the switch is an enjoyable way to spend his time.
“It’s a great seat for watching the game,” he said. “I love the kids. Everything about it is enjoyable to me.”
Don’t be surprised if Howard is sitting in the press box and running the football clock for many years to come.
“As long as my eyes are good, I’ll keep doing it,” he said. “I’m only 52 so maybe I have a few more years in me. You have to have a love for the game. I enjoy helping out.”
Howard has done various favors for the Leslie football program. Running the clock ranks up there as being among his favorite.
“I’ve done some coaching and officiating,” he said. “Running the clock is a pretty competitive job. It’s something I enjoy doing. I can’t cheer like other people can while I’m in the press box. It’s still a great seat.”
Being involved with six Leslie playoff teams has also been a lot of fun for Howard. Under the old class system, when only four divisions were used to determine playoff qualifiers, Leslie made the postseason in 1983.
In 1999, Michigan went to a system where teams playing a nine-game schedule and winning six games or more advance to the playoffs. Leslie has qualified in Division 6 for the playoffs five times: in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2007.
Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.