If you have been to a Montana Tech sporting event over the last couple of decades, then you know the work of Joe McClafferty.

Even though it has been more than a decade since he moved on from his role as the director of athletics at Montana Tech, the impact he made there is still alive and well. He created Digger Vision, the giant Jumbotron at Alumni Coliseum that made the rest of the Frontier Conference extremely jealous.

He was the man behind the original artificial turf on the Bob Green Field. He was behind the renovations of the HPER Complex, and he created the Kelvin Sampson Court.

Joe started the tailgate party and football games, and now that more resembles a block party than a pregame get together.

Not too bad from a boy from Dog Town.

Before he started to transform Orediggers sports, Joe he was a money management guy, a television personality and a radio broadcaster. He was part of Omaga Television, and he was the radio colorman for Pat Kearney.

He was also quite an athlete. Joe was an All-State basketball player at Butte Central, though Kearny disputed the fact that he was a two-time All-State player before graduating from BC in 1982.

Joe was an outstanding young baseball player, and he was recruited to play basketball at Montana Tech by Kelvin Samspon.

After short stops in Kalispell and Helena, Joe and his wife Therese are back in Butte. For the better part of a year, Joe has worked as CEO of Harrington Pepsi.

Earlier this week, I met with Joe at the Knights of Columbus, where he first started playing basketball, for a fun conversation.

Listen in as he talks about his work at Montana Tech and the road that brought him back to the Mining City. Listen as he talks about playing at Butte Central and all the times he fouled “Flyin’” Brian Vaughns during practice at Montana Tech.

Listen to hear what it was like to call a game with Pat Kearny. Listen in to hear where you can find Dog Town.

Today’s episode is presented by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat. This episode is also available on YouTube: