Ken Carver is not unique in being a sports official who misguided fans like to yell at. But he has been doing it long enough that enough people know his name.

So, instead of yelling “Come on ref,” they yell, “Come on Carver.”

They know his name at youth sporting events because Mr. Carver has spent his entire adult life working with our youth. He works as a teacher at East Middle School, where he currently teaches seventh-grade math.

Mr. Carver was a member of Butte High’s first three Class AA State championship wrestling teams. He was runner up at 112 pounds as a junior and a senior. After injury cut his collegiate wrestling career short, Mr. Carver got into coaching.

He first started as a volunteer for Beaverhead County High School in Dillon. He coached under Jim Street at Butte High before beginning a long stint as a wrestling coach at East Middle School.

At East, Mr. Carver still coaches cross country and track. This Saturday, he will spend the day officiating the Smith/McCarthy tournament at East Middle School.

Next Saturday in Dillon, Mr. Carver will get some well-earned recognition for his 35 years as a teacher in the Butte School District when he is inducted into the Montana Western Education Hall of Fame.

The “Night of Stars” will include a video presentation to honor Mr. Carver and a speech that he is about to start working on.

Listen in to this podcast as he talks about being a part of the first of 13 straight Butte High state titles. Listen as he talks about his coaching, teaching and officiating days. Listen to how much he relies on the support of his wife Zana and their two sons, Kody and Bryce.

Listen to how he has put up with so many people yelling, “Come on, Carver.”

Today’s podcast is presented by Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warranty.