reprinted from Nov. 16, 2009
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HEREMORGANTOWN - Al Babcock has decided to retire as West Virginia University's official basketball scorekeeper, a role he filled for 65 consecutive years.
He also served several years as steward of WVU's press box for home football games.
"I'm 90 years old now, and it has been a long but great ride for me," Babcock said last week. "I loved my work. I wouldn't have traded it for all the tea in China."
During his "a labor of love," Babcock proudly served his alma mater - and 11 coaches - with distinction while scoring thousands of basketball games.
Those were played in the old Field House and the WVU Coliseum, which was completed in 1970.
Michael Fragale, WVU assistant athletic director for communications, paid tribute to Babcock.
"I think people like Al Babcock have made this a special place," Fragale said. "He's a man who has devoted most of his life to help the Mountaineers succeed in both football and basketball, and he did a good job over the years.
"He didn't consider it a job but did it for the love of his school."
Bob Huggins, for whom he scored as a player and two years as coach, called Babcock "a great Mountaineer."
"That guy has been as loyal and charitable as anyone," Huggins said. "He's been a tremendous tribute to the state, the university and certainly to his family."
Babcock has lived mainly in three cities - Parkersburg, Morgantown and Fairmont - since his family moved to West Virginia in 1932. He was born in the Boston area and was 12 when his family came to the Mountain State.
The Babcocks settled in Parkersburg, where Al graduated from Parkersburg High School. His father, Bill, was an accountant with a sports background.
Ironically, father and son were rival sports editors for a few years - Al with the morning Parkersburg News and Bill with the afternoon Parkersburg Sentinel.
"We got along pretty well," the son said. "Dad and I never got into a verbal fight in the papers."
Al eventually graduated from WVU, married wife Frankie Lee, now deceased, and they had one child - daughter Carol Straight, who lives with her husband in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Babcock was a reporter for the Morgantown Post for 12 years before he and Frankie Lee moved to Fairmont, where he spent about 15 years working for Monongahela Power Co.
"I was the residential representative for Monongalia and Preston counties, and I met a lot of wonderful people," Babcock said.
"My dad was a good baseball player, and he got me interested in sports. I did run the quarter-mile in track for the Big Reds and later for coach Art Smith at WVU. But I wasn't very good."
Babcock said he met a lot of people during his scorekeeping career. Those included coaches, players and even Mountaineer fans.
"I enjoyed every minute I put in," he admitted. "It was wonderful."
Babcock has two plaques on his wall at his suite in Heritage Point Village. One was presented by the WVU athletic department after his 50th year of scorekeeping. The other came from football coach Bill Stewart a few years ago for his football work.
"These are my most cherished possessions," he said. "They make me proud."
A part of the sports information unit is named in Babcock's honor. He admittedly has endorsed his scorekeeping checks and donated them to WVU athletics.
"I didn't have a lot of money, but I wanted to contribute that to my alma mater," he said.
Among Babcock's favorite players and coaches were superstars Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley, Fred Schaus, Dr. H.C. Carlson of Pittsburgh (coach) and referee "Red" Mihalik.
Babcock still will be at games in the Coliseum as a spectator.
"When he was steward in the football press box or serving as official scorer for men's basketball, Al was happy with the Mountaineers," Fragale said. "We have given him a permanent seat on press row, and he'll always have it for himself.
"We want him to enjoy basketball games relaxing, just as he enjoys football games. He's a great fan."