Marlboro County Board of Education voted on Tuesday during a special called meeting to name the press box at Marlboro County High School. Board Chairman Jackie Branch talked about the death of Mike Skipper on Feb. 16.

He said he was someone close to the athletic department and to the county. Skipper began during the public address announcements at the MCHS football games about 30 years ago and did it for the majority of that time. “Mike loved sports, especially the Bulldogs and the students in Marlboro County in general, ” Branch said. “He was one of the most humble and genuine guys you’ve ever met. Whenever you heard that unmistakable voice resonate over the PA knew you were in McAlpine Stadium on a Friday night and you knew it to be entertaining. Branch added that football games wouldn’t be the same without Skipper.

“Mike was the kind of person that probably never realized the impact he had on fans, students and players alike,” Branch said.

Branch turn the chair duties over to our vice-chair, Rev. James Smith so he could make the motion to name the press box at McAlpine Stadium the Mike Skipper Press Box.

Board members passed the motion with one absention. Board members Chuck Graham and Reginald Gaymon were not present at the time.

Branch thanked Skipper’s wife Melissa and his children Mark and Mandy for sharing him with the county for all these years.

Branch said, “Mike loved sports, especially the Bulldogs, the students in Marlboro County in general. He was one of the most humble and genuine guys you will ever meet. Whenever you heard that unmistakable voice resonate over the PA system, you knew you were in McAlpine Stadium on a Friday night and you knew it would be entertaining. Football games won’t be the
same without him. Mike was the kind of person who never realized the impact he had on fans, players, and students alike.”

A memorial service for Skipper was held Sunday, Feb. 20 in McAlpine Football Stadium.

Prior to the funeral, MCHS football coach and athletic director Bobby Collins said Skipper was one of the most pleasant men that he had ever met. “He did my first season here and he did the season past,” Collins said. “He was a joy to have in the stands to be able to just listen to his enthusiasm, his attention to detail, and just his family-oriented vibe to be able to hear at a football game on Friday nights. He was a treasure. He’s going to be missed a whole lot.”

Coach Dean Boyd, who coached at MCHS for more than 20 years and is now at York Comprehensive High School, said Skipper was the “voice of the Bulldogs and probably the truest bulldog of all.”

Boyd met with him during his first year and asked him to do the public announcements.

“It was probably the best coaching move I made the whole time I was,” said Boyd, who gave the eulogy for Skipper. “I could count on him. I didn’t have to worry who was going to have to be up there on Friday night. He was the consummate professional. He was just a great Christian loving kind man.” Boyd added that Skipper would be missed and hard to replace.