Photo courtesy of Mr. Jason Leupp
By: Timothy Kays
THE REPORTER
If you’ve ever attended a Stryker basketball home game, you’ve seen him. Be it boys’ or girls’, you’ve seen Mr. Kevin Heer. If not, you weren’t paying attention to the pregame proceedings.
After the playing of the National Anthem prior to the start of the varsity contests, PA announcer, Mr. Stan Kruse, introduces the starters and non-starters for both the visitors’ and the home team. By the time he gets down to the last group to be announced, the Panthers’ starting five, the Stryker student cheering section has formed a gauntlet line around the baseline, but there is one person who is also coming out onto the court who does not join them. This man comes out about halfway onto the Stryker side of the court and patiently awaits the introductions of the home team. As each player comes out, they run over to shake the hand of the opposing coach, trade fist bumps with the officiating crew, then head for the gauntlet line of students awaiting a chance to deliver a high-five. You’ve seen this tradition repeated in every school…it’s nothing new.
The magic happens between the officials and the gauntlet line though, as each player gives and gets their first high five of the evening from the man standing by himself on the court, carrying on a tradition that he began many years ago. That man is Kevin Heer. For a man whose doctors once said would not live to see the end of the day of his birth, he has proven himself to be as durable as Panther Pride, as he is arguably the most visible exponent of the phenomenon.
On the afternoon of May 17, the Village of Stryker gathered together in the multipurpose room of the Stryker School to pay homage to the #1 fan of Stryker sports on the fiftieth anniversary of the day his doctors gave him up for dead. For anyone who bleeds the Fighting Blue and White, Kevin Heer’s fiftieth birthday bash was a must-attend event.
Surrounded by family and friends, coaches and players past and present, the multipurpose room was packed with Kevin Heer fans. At 4:00, Stryker Athletic Director Kim Miller called the birthday boy, decked out in a big, black top hat inscribed with the letters ‘BIG 5-0’ and multi-colored candles sticking out of the top, to the front. As Kevin came forward, he did not notice that a lineup of players from the 2013-14 Panthers and Lady Panthers were also on their way up behind him. Led by coaches Steve Brown and Larry Freshour, a series of special presentations were made to top off Kevin’s big day.
First, Coach Freshour presented him with a basketball, signed by the members of both teams. Second, Coach Brown presented Kevin with a certificate naming him an honorary manager of both teams. Kim Miller then presented Kevin with an item, unique in the school district…a lifetime pass to all Stryker sporting events, serial numbered #001. Finally came the big presentation; Kevin was given a genuine Stryker Panthers Varsity jacket, with the name ‘Heer’ emblazoned at the top of the back.
Each member of the boys’ and girls’ teams then came forward to give and receive a hug from their number one fan. The entire audience sang a round of ‘Happy Birthday’ to Kevin, after which he bowed and tipped his hat.
It is events like this that make small communities like Stryker more close-knit and morally stronger than the big cities. No one is really left behind by clique or societal stricture. As Christ said, “The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” Small town America has been living that lifestyle for nearly two centuries, and when it comes to a sense of community involvement, nobody does it better.
There may be people who write bigger checks to the Stryker Athletic Boosters. There may be people who put more time and effort into the special projects of the Boosters, but when it comes to the priceless commodity of heart, that category is sewn up.
Nobody has more heart for his Stryker Panthers than Kevin Heer.
Happy birthday, little brother!
Timothy Kays can be reached at tim@thevillagereporter.com