If you want to find Jim Slowey, look to the top of the bleachers.
For the last 35 years, Slowey has climbed to his perch, arms filled with notes, rosters and spreadsheets. When Slowey’s voice hits a microphone, it’s hard to believe he’s only a volunteer.
An Amtrak production supervisor from 1976 to 2017, Slowey didn’t plan on becoming a broadcaster. After co-founding the Kenan Soccer League, Slowey thought it might be interesting if LCTV broadcasted the games and the Lockport station agreed, but only if Slowey was the play-by-play man.
So, for more than three decades, Slowey has been high atop the action, providing a soundtrack for athletics — ranging from football to kickboxing — in Lockport and its surrounding areas. Slowey never took a salary, but Lockport High School is repaying the debt by shifting the spotlight from its athletes to their 67-year-old hype man.
Slowey will receive the third annual Robert “Boober” Johnston Award, given at the Lockport Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony to someone who has selflessly dedicated themselves to Lockport athletics. The banquet begins at 6 p.m. Friday at Lockport Town and Country Club.
“I do everything positive,” Slowey said. “There’s no negativity. I want somebody to watch it, to enjoy it. I could sit there and criticize (a) coach’s decision or I could criticize how this guy dropped the ball. I don’t do that, usually. I mean, it’s supposed to be people want to watch and like it.”
Getting into sports wasn’t a problem for Slowey. Growing up in Williamsville, Slowey played soccer at Williamsville North. His passion for the game didn’t fade after graduating in 1974 nor when he and his wife, Judy, moved to Lockport eight years later.
Continuing with the sport meant joining the Kenan Soccer Committee in the early 1980s, coaching and later being president and chairman of Lockport Little League from 1983 to 2002 and helping to form the Lockport Soccer Club in 1994, which he served as president for over 20 years. But, when he wasn’t with family or involved in soccer, Slowey became known for broadcasting games.
But for Slowey, the preparation for the games is what has mattered the most. Having Internet access to view the section websites and contacting coaches has become easier due to technology, with Slowey still preparing his own spreadsheets, no matter the sport, for at least two to three hours.
“You don’t want to screw up the names all the time,” Slowey said. “… It takes a lot of time of studying. But it’s the way it is. And, I mean, if you don’t put the time in, you can’t do it, you know. I mean, you just can’t.”
Along with the preparation, Slowey has worked with a variety of color commentators in his LCTV career, depending on the sport. But no matter who is wearing the other headset, Slowey makes sure the on-air chemistry works.
Outside of sports broadcasting, Slowey hosts local government programming for LCTV, discussing issues with local politicians. But, from the perspective of 20-year LCTV producer Phil Czarnecki, Slowey has the personality to interact with anyone with no issues and no matter the broadcast, especially when in a two-man booth.
“He’s got a good personality, even when he interviews,” Czarnecki said. “He’s like your next door neighbor. He’s your best friend type of thing.”
Before telling Slowey the news of his award in late July, Burke interacted with him for 20 years as Lockport’s athletic director from 1995 to 2015. From his encounters at Lockport sporting events, Burke had nothing but success with Slowey.
No matter the sport, Slowey was one of the first to arrive and one of the last to leave for a Lockport broadcast and interview Lockport coaches after games. To Burke, Slowey has been a gem for Lockport athletics.
“He just wanted kids to get notoriety, which is just an outstanding character trait of his,” Burke said. “He was just so kid-centered and so kid-oriented that he wanted to make kids shine. … He was the consummate professional all the time.”
Along with the broadcasting career, Slowey is a proud father of three children, Jim III, Rachel and Chris. Years later, the children recall how Slowey would work overnight shifts as a production supervisor at Amtrak from 1976 to 2017 then rest during their school day and have the energy to coach them or broadcast games.
Rachel, the second oldest, competed in track and field, soccer and softball for the Lions before graduating in 1999. Not only was watching her father broadcast the games special for her and her siblings but it was just a small part of how he was a role model for them.
“He always believed in being fair,” Rachel said. “He always believed in giving everyone a chance. He always gave you motivation to be the best that you could be and was always there to support you no matter what your skill set was to make you the best player. Everything you could possibly be.”
While preparing for the induction Friday, Slowey is gearing up for his latest football contest when Lockport hosts Lancaster at 2 p.m. Saturday. Slowey reduced his schedule during the winter as he travels down to Florida to visit with family.
But when the game begins and he gets the cue from Czarnecki that he’s on the air, Slowey enjoys the moment. Being on the air for Lockport is a role he still looks forward to and hopes to stay in for years to come.
“Nobody loves to do anything you don’t enjoy, you know?” Slowey said. “… When my kids were younger, it was doing a lot with them, and a lot of the games that I would go, I’m taking my time away from them, which was tough. And then they’re grown. And you sit there and you go, ‘If you can do it, fine.’ It’s just rewarding to do it.”