Robert T. Clark Award

Jim Church, Local Sports Broadcaster

Long time WNPV 1440 AM broadcaster Jim Church has been named as the 2nd recipient of the Maxwell Club’s Robert T. Clark Contributions to Football Award.  

“I am overwhelmed,” said Church upon receiving notification of his selection.

In the Maxwell Club’s perspective, it has been Church who has been overwhelming during his nearly 40 year broadcasting career.  He was originally hired by WNPV station owner John Skibbe in 1970.  Since that time, he has called over 600 games in baseball, basketball and primarily football.  In football, he has worked seven PIAA state finals and countless other showcase events.  

His weekly show "On the Bench", highlighting local sports figures, has been a regular feature for over 30 years.  “We’ve got so many good student-athletes,” Church told Bud Kern of The Free Press during an interview a few years ago.  “I just love the opportunity to promote them on the air.  These are the kids we’ll be turning our country over to in a few years.  “I not concerned about the caliber of the kids today.  When I walk away Saturday morning after a show I feel pretty good.”

A 1950 graduate and three-sport athlete at Lansdale (now North Penn) High School, Church has won numerous awards for his broadcasting from the state, local schools and area community including Associated Press awards for high school football and basketball play-by-play.  He is also a member of the Souderton and North Penn Sports Hall of Fames.  Central Bucks West Hall of Fame Chairman John Flood said in a letter to WNPV, “The people he’s touched with his sincere interest and knowledge of high school sports will be a lasting legacy to his legendary status.” 

Church has been the chairman of the Montgomery County All-Star Football game for 19 years and is on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Coaches' Hall of Fame and Triangle Club.   

What comes to mind most about Church is his positive attitude toward young athletes when calling games or hosting his weekly show.  Former Souderton High School Football Coach Drew Darrah once said, “He would never embarrass a youngster.  If for example a football player would fumble the football, Jim would describe it on air as simply a fumble, not concentrating in particular on the player.”  

Former Pennridge coach Bud Hollenbach once sent a random letter to thank Church for his unbiased broadcasts despite the fact that Hollenbach supported the “opposing” team.

Maxwell Football Club High School Award’s Committee member Robert Hoffman 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.”  Legendary Central Bucks West Coach Mike Pettine probably put it best when he said, “He’s an institution.”

Church lives in Telford with his wife of 54 years, Loretta (“The best thing that ever happened in my life,” Church said), has two sons (Greg and Doug) and two grand-daughters.