Late Eric Grove honored with press box dedication for his enthusiasm for Ontario sports
ONTARIO − It will be right there in his favorite colors.
It reads, "The Eric Grove Press Box" and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
On Thursday evening before the opening high school football game of the season, Ontario High School revealed a nameplate on the front of the press box at Copeland Field at Niss Stadium, dedicating the press box to the late Eric Grove. A 1997 Ontario graduate, Grove was affectionately known as the "Voice of the Warriors" as he joyfully spent his fall and winter seasons doing the public address announcing for all Ontario football and boys and girls basketball games.
Grove passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 26 of this year at the age of 43. But his memory will now live on forever every time an Ontario football team steps on the field and anyone takes a look up at the press box and the blue and gold sign that will forever bear his name.
"It is a great tribute to Eric and his dedication to Ontario sports," Eric's father, John Grove, said. "He has lived and breathed Ontario for so long, and this way his enthusiasm and love for the game and the school will continue to be in front of people."
In May, the Ontario school board approved unanimously a motion to name the press box in honor of Eric "Grover" Grove and, on Thursday before the Warriors' Week 1 game, Grover's mother, Deb, saw the sign for the first time in front of a packed crowd.
"It just makes my momma heart so proud," she said. "I knew how much he loved this. It was his favorite time of the year. He loved it and I am sad he is not here, but it is so nice they are doing this for him. I appreciate it so much."
Grover was never the attention-seeking type. Instead, he used his booming voice and love of Ontario sports and its athletes to instead put the spotlight on each one of them. Thursday was all about the man who put the athletes first, a nice switch-up and tribute.
"He would be tickled, but he was pretty modest," John Grove said. "He would be bashful about it, probably, but I think he would enjoy it. It is just a great tribute. There have been so many great words of support ever since Eric's passing from the school and the community. It has been wonderful."
Deb agreed.
"He would be tickled, but I think he would be shy at first because he never liked to be in the limelight," she said. "He wanted to lay low and put all the attention on the kids."
But during the pregame ceremony, the attention was on Grover. Then, the Warriors went out and beat Lexington 21-17 in an absolute thriller that surely would have had Grover on the edge of his seat.
And Grover had the perfect view.
"Behind the scenes, we had some very important people who have their own legacies here at Ontario like Joe Balogh and Tim Henige, and when people like that who have an educational background and success in sports as coaches and adults and the work ethic they represent say, 'Listen, let's consider the opportunity for Grover to be recognized as one of us,' you listen," Ontario Athletic Director Jeff Fisher said.
"He really impacted our students with his volunteerism and altruism first and secondly with his kindness. Everybody loved Grover. He reached many, even if it was with just his voice."
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Voice of the Warriors Eric Grove honored with press box dedication
