Don McDermott, long time sports writer at the Daily Advocate recently paid a visit to Darke County. Don shared a few things with this writer.

The return of an old friend
By George Starks

GREENVILLE- Recently, many of you asked about some articles written by Don McDermott.

Don was at one time the Editor and the Sports Editor of the Daily Advocate and is currently the Managing Editor of a weekly publication in Parumph, Nevada, The Parumph Mirror.

Don was with the Advocate for 14 years, doing stints from 1962-1966 and 1966-1986, covering a host of collage and professional events over his lifetime including the Philadelphia Flyers Stanly Cup years in 1974 and 75 as well as the final game that Adolph Rupp coached at Kentucky.

Through it all, McDermott always seemed to find his way back to Darke County. His recent trip was referred to as a 'Bucket List' trip as Don will turn 77 years of age in November.

"I moved to Nevada in May 2001 from Greenville," said McDermott during a recent interview. "Covering sports in Darke County was always fun... even with 20 inches of snow and ice on the roads. I recently eliminated three of my bucket list goals but have 74 left on that list to accomplish."

Since his retirement from the Advocate, McDermott has never broken away from the sports scene.

Upon his arrival in Parumph, he soon took a job at The Parumph Valley Times, a two day a week publication, covering numerous high school sports that will be talked about later in this article.

During his time in Nevada, McDermott, living close to Las Vegas, lived a dream. He played in the World Series of Poker, one of the reasons he moved to Nevada.

While at the Daily Advocate, McDermott had the privilege of watching some great sporting events."Covering the 1962, 1964 and 1999 World Horseshoe Pitching Championships at Greenville City Park was easily the biggest event," said McDermott. "Reporting on major races at Eldora Speedway was also cool, but overall, reporting on some great football teams at Versailles High School, with coach Al Hetrick, was ultra-exciting. And who could forget Lee Falknor and some of the tough boys' basketball teams he had at Tri-Village? Tim Barga had some awesome girls' basketball teams at Versailles, including four that had Jackie Raterman, now Stonebraker, as a standout player. And I am not forgetting Gene Reigle and Life Sign's victory in the Little Brown Jug in 1993.That was easily the most memorable day at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. Plus, there were people like John Suba, Blair Irvin, Tony DiRocco, Bob Velloney and Bill Funderburg from the early days. I could go one for hours, but readers have other things to do, I believe."

On the high school scene in Parumph from 2002-2012, McDermott has covered 13 Parumph Valley High School state championship teams including five girls golf teams and three softball teams. Included in that Nevada state list are two girls soccer teams a girls track team and a wrestling team.

"One girl, Dominique Maloy, won 15 out of a possible 16 individual track titles...four each in the 100 (12.4 seconds), 200 (24.6) and 400  54.8) dashes and three in the long jump  (once in a meet cleared almost 21 feet). She went on to become a three-time All-American at  Arizona State in track. She was 5 foot 1 and rarely weighed more than 110 pounds in high school," McDermott pointed out. "It was Maloy's performances over four years that were most memorable. She was a two-year starter at point guard in basketball and twice was the soccer team's leading scorer as a striker. No one could catch her."

Parumph Valley High School  (PVHS) had Sydney Sladek, a girl soccer player who scored 205 goals in her career, including 78 in her junior season when PVHS won its second straight state title. Sladek has signed with Southern Cal.

"What made PVHS sports so special was logistics. The closest league school in Class 3-A  was 58 miles one way. Three others were 88, 126 and 166 mile trips ...one way!! Nye County, in Nevada covers 18,000 square miles. Nye County, incidentally is the Nevada Test Site, where atom bombs were tested 60 years ago and Yucca Mountain, where nuclear waste was to be stored....The county seat, Tonopah, is 173 miles away...one way!!   Southern Nevada is for the most desert and between Pahrump and Las Vegas is a 6,000 foot mountain pass. Team travel was an adventure,   to say the least."

"State tournaments, by the way, are a double-elimination when they get down to the Final Four in most sports, except football, "McDermott added.

During his short stay in Greenville, McDermott had the opportunity to watch Greenville and Versailles hook up in a baseball game at Sater Diamonds. A game the Tigers won by a 5-0 count.

I had the privilege of meeting with Don twice and I presented him with the question, "Are you looking to come back to help cover sports in Darke County."

His answer was simple:

"My plans? I have many reasons for wanting to return... so stay tuned. A decision is forthcoming......

“I did enjoy my brief visit immensely...nothing better than green grass, trees and sidewalks... and a lot of people who remember the good old days."

McDermott has a lot to be proud of but none comes close to his grandson.

"My grandson Mikey was killed in Afghanistan on September 11, 2008. He was his mother's only son. He was 22 years old. His mother Jennifer eight months later, lost her husband to a heart attack. He was 40. I have grown a beard and wear a beret on occasion."