GARDEN CITY — There are few constants in 40 years of anything on this planet, even in small towns like Garden City.
However, Delmer Batla and Travis Pate have been one of those staples.
If you've ever attended a football game at Garden City High School, you've likely heard Delmer on the microphone and seen Travis sitting next to him in the press box with a pair of binoculars.
Delmer has been behind the microphone as the public address announcer for the team for 50 years, starting in 1972. Travis joined him as a spotter in the booth around 1982.
Delmer was born in March of 1934 to Laddie K and Emily Batla in the town of Wall. He spent 10 years in the in the Wall school district before being forced to leave as Wall only had 10 grades back then.
Delmer finished his education at San Angelo High School graduating in 1951. He married his wife Marcie in 1953 and moved to St. Lawrence for good in 1963 when he purchased the St. Lawrence Gin.
“I started announcing in 1972 when I was asked if I was interested in announcing,” said Delmer. “Back then most superintendents were announcing games and I guess they decided they need to mingle more with the people at the ball games.”
Delmer decided to give it a try and after a little bit he became addicted, and everything fell into place.
“I had a polka and country western band, so I wasn’t scared of no microphone,” said Delmer. “I went to a couple seminars at Howard College and San Angelo College and became a certified football announcer. Ever since then I just used the KISS method, Keep It Short and Sweet.”
Delmer has had the pleasure of announcing his sons football games, grandsons football games, and next year he will announce his great grandsons’ junior high games.
“I really the game and have really enjoyed watching these young men grow up,” said Delmer. “I had the privilege of announcing their games and now their kids and grandkids games.”
Some of his best memories were the 2009 and 2010 Garden City state champion teams which were quarterbacked by his grandson.
“That was pretty fun,” stated Delmer. “But it has all been a highlight as far as I’m concerned.”
Delmer gives all the credit to the great Lord for blessing him in so many ways.
“I play lots of instruments and do some singing. Without the good Lord I couldn’t have made it this far,” Delmer said.
Delmer has also been a staple at the Glasscock County Junior Livestock Show announcing since 1978 and the San Angelo Barrow Show since 1985.
Travis Pate was born in 1936 in Cotulla to Travis and Leatrice Pate. He married his wife Betty Saxon and had two kids which both graduated from Garden City High School.
Travis used to travel all over the country being employed by Texas A&M University of El Paso. He settled in Garden City in 1974 when he started his own private business as an Entomologist consultant. At one time he also owned and operated a propane company and later a gun store in Big Spring.
Travis joined Delmer in the press box 40 years ago.
“I got to know Delmer when I first moved to Garden City because of all my work with the cotton farmers and him owning the gin,” said Travis. “We became good friends and he needed some help in the box and he asked me. We have been doing games together ever since.”
The two started out in a small deer blind press box. When it rained neither of the two wanted to touch anything because they would get shocked. But now the two enjoy the Friday night games from a very nice press box.
“I love six-man football and I really enjoy it,” said Travis about being in the booth. “I get to know the kids watching them starting in junior high and going all the way through high school. A lot of them have kids that are playing now. Getting enjoy seeing them grow up and become good citizens.”
One of Travis’s favorite memories happened during the 2010 state championship year.
“We had won something like 14 straight games going into a non-district game against O’Donnell. The boys were behind 56-48 at halftime and it looked like O’Donnell was going to win. When they came back out for the second half, Garden City ended the game before the end of the third quarter 102-56. They 45’ed them in less than a quarter. Delmer’s grandson was quarterback, and we never could figure out what happened at half time. Then one day when Josh Colunga was working for me, he was one of the seniors at the time, I asked him what Vance Jones said at halftime. He looked at my funny and then he said, all the coaches went into his office and locked the door.
When halftime started, we were not sure if he was going to come back out and coach us. Colunga then said Brett Chudej stood up and said, If we lose this game I sure don’t want to come to practice on Monday.”
Delmer and Travis look forward to next season.