"Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Chesnee High School."
For anyone that has attended football games at Chesnee over the last thirty years that is a very familiar refrain and for all of those years it has been spoken by only one man, Bruce Mahaffey. Mahaffey is a proud alumni of Chesnee High School and when he took his place behind the microphone against Legion Collegiate Academy this past Friday night it officially began his thirtieth season being the voice of the Eagles. "I have enjoyed every game I have been a part of at Chesnee High School,” Mahaffey said. “I've seen a lot of good players come through Chesnee and it's been a thrill to call their names out. A lot of players I saw through the years are now grown with kids of their own and come to me with fond memories." Bruce’s investment in the Chesnee community doesn’t end at just his job behind the microphone as he has served of the school board and is also currently serving his fifteenth year on the Chesnee City Council. All three of Mahaffey’s children (Lesley, Carole, and Jeremy) have graduated from Chesnee along with his grandson Jackson, a former Eagles football player, who is currently serving in the U.S. Army. "I graduated from Chesnee High School and while growing up I would ride through town and see people and stores to which I would say, ‘Someday, I want to be a part of that,’” said Mahaffey. “After my kids started getting involved with little leagues and programs we just started to get more involved in the community. My love is not just for Chesnee football but it is for everybody I come in contact with in the city of Chesnee.” Bruce's daughter, Carole, had a funny story to share about Jackson and her father's dedication to Chesnee High School. "I remember when Jackson was due,” said Carole. “My dad joked ‘Well, you know I will be there, unless it’s a home varsity football game.” Bruce will tell you he loves all the Chesnee football players but there is one in particular that stands out, his grandson Cole Hoskyns, who is a two-way starter for the Eagles. "I've watched him for the last three years on this field and it's been amazing to watch him and how he's progressed,” said Mahaffey. “He holds a big place in my heart and he is a joy to be around." "Hearing my grandpa's voice on Friday nights is an indescribable feeling,” Hoskyns explained. “Coming to almost all the home games as a little kid I looked up to the kids whose names he was calling out at the time. It’s just an indescribable feeling standing under the lights on Friday night and hearing him call out my name. It’s also a little extra driving force to play well so he gets to say my name a couple extra times when we play at home." Bruce is the "Voice of the Eagles" and to some Eagle fans, it’s the only voice they’ve ever known as Chesnee's public address announcer. "Bruce has been announcing since I played flag football,” recalled Nick Linder, who serves as the spotter for Mahaffey. “His voice over the speaker is all that several generations of people know. Thirty years is unreal." Bruce is not the only member of his family with a dedication to Chesnee High School as Bruce's wife, Brenda, served for many years as a substitute teacher at the school along with a number of other roles throughout the years. When the Eagles return to the field this Friday night to host St. Joseph’s in a pivotal region matchup for Chesnee, Mahaffey will be right there behind his microphone welcoming everyone to Chesnee High School.
Tina Scruggs
8/16/2021 03:52:03 pm
So happy and proud for you Bruce! Comments are closed.
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