On January 15, the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia presented veteran local sportscaster Jim Church with the Robert T. Clark Award in recognition of his lifelong dedication to promoting high school sports and high school football in particular.

Robert Hoffman of the Maxwell Club’s High School Awards Committee said, “One would be hard pressed to think of someone else other than Jim who has done more to promote the game of high school football or, more importantly, the young men who play it.”

“This award is a great honor and a great surprise,” said Jim, a public relations representative at Moyer for more than 10 years. “I’ve been involved because wanted to make a positive impact on our young people, but not so I could receive recognition. It’s the players and the sport that are important.”

In his long and distinguished career, Jim has provided play-by-play commentary for more than 600 games in football, baseball and basketball, seven PIAA state finals and countless other showcase events. He has chaired the Montgomery County All-Star Football Game for 19 years and serves on the boards of the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame and the Triangle Club of Montgomery County. For more than 30 years Jim has hosted a weekly radio talk show with local coaches and athletes. A member of the Souderton and North Penn Sports halls of fame, he is a 1950 graduate of Lansdale (now North Penn) High School, where he played three sports.

Jim and Loretta, his wife of 54 years, have two sons, Greg and Doug, and two granddaughters.

Photo: Jim Church, Public Relations Representative