It’s difficult to describe how much Jim Garchow has meant to Skyline High School players, coaches, and fans. I'll never forget how he would come to our basketball practices early in the season with his pad of paper and pencil to take notes and ask questions about the squad. He always wanted to be prepared with not just names and numbers, but also perspectives from the coaching staff. It didn't feel like the season had officially started until I had the chance to visit with Jim. He made me feel welcome at Skyline from the moment I met him. Often he would hand me a little note about an opponent’s record, or he would stuff some free throw shooting percentages in my pocket saying, "Every little bit helps, just thought you should know."
Jim Garchow was brief and to the point. He told it like it was. His radio commentary and play by play was clear and professional. On a personal level, his 980 AM broadcasts meant a lot to my family. Many times my wife wouldn't make it to games because she didn't want to battle our little ones. She often enjoyed listening to the radio more than being there, thanks to Jim’s vivid commentary. She even went so far as to record some of Jim’s audio broadcasts with her laptop microphone so we could use the clips in our highlight videos.
Garchow would also MC many of our basketball banquets. Even after some difficult seasons, he managed to find the silver lining that made the season special and boosted my confidence as a coach. He had faith in me. Many times he made supportive statements to players and fans to trust me, saying that he had been around long enough and knew enough coaches to be confident that we were doing the right things at Skyline. Jim seemed to recognize the struggles I was going through and made me feel like my efforts weren't in vain. He'd even call after a tough loss or big win with a short message like "How's the beleaguered old coach?", "Keep your head up." or "It's a great day to be a grizzly, I thought that was something special last night!"
I want Jim’s family to know how thankful the basketball program is for his time. He impacted many young men, as well as a young coach trying to get his feet under him. As a friend, thank you Jim Garchow. You will be missed, but never forgotten. To quote a favorite sports movie, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” Jim Garchow was truly a legend.
--Coach Ty Shippen
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