Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has announced Dallas ISD sporting events for 60 years and his daughter, Cathy, has been alongside serving as his assistant and spotter for half that time.

Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has announced Dallas ISD sporting events for 60 years and his daughter, Cathy, has been alongside serving as his assistant and spotter for half that time.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning News

At the age of 93, John Pritchett has been announcing sporting events for more than 70 years, including Dallas ISD competitions since the 1960s.

It all started when he sprained his ankle while enlisted in the U.S. Army and stationed in Germany during the Korean War, but more on that later.

John Pritchett has announced Dallas ISD sporting events for 60 years and his daughter, Cathy has been alongside to serve as assistant and spotter for half that time. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

John Pritchett has announced Dallas ISD sporting events for 60 years and his daughter, Cathy has been alongside to serve as assistant and spotter for half that time. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning NewsJohn Pritchett and his daughter Cathy announce a football game at Kincaide Stadium from a table surrounded by fans in the stands as the stadium’s elevator is inoperative. John has been announcing Dallas ISD athletic events for 60 years and his daughter Cathy has been his assistant alongside for half that time. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

John Pritchett and his daughter Cathy announce a football game at Kincaide Stadium from a table surrounded by fans in the stands as the stadium’s elevator is inoperative. John has been announcing Dallas ISD athletic events for 60 years and his daughter Cathy has been his assistant alongside for half that time. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning NewsA detail shot of John Pritchett before the start of a football game held at Kincaide Stadium. John has announced Dallas ISD athletic events for 60 years. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

A detail shot of John Pritchett before the start of a football game held at Kincaide Stadium. John has announced Dallas ISD athletic events for 60 years. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning NewsJohn Pritchett checks his rosters before announcing a play as his daughter Cathy serves as his spotter. John has announced Dallas ISD athletic events for 60 years and his daughter Cathy has been alongside to assist for half that time. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

John Pritchett checks his rosters before announcing a play as his daughter Cathy serves as his spotter. John has announced Dallas ISD athletic events for 60 years and his daughter Cathy has been alongside to assist for half that time. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest as his daughter Cathy helps him by spotting players. John has been announcing Dallas ISD athletic events for six decades and has had his daughter alongside for half that time. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest as his daughter Cathy helps him by spotting players. John has been announcing Dallas ISD athletic events for six decades and has had his daughter alongside for half that time. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and his daughter Cathy has been alongside to assist for half that time. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and his daughter Cathy has been alongside to assist for half that time. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning NewsDallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and his daughter Cathy has been alongside as his assistant for half that time. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and his daughter Cathy has been alongside as his assistant for half that time. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning NewsJohn Pritchett is assisted by his daughter Cathy as they announce the first half action from a makeshift table as Kincaide Stadium had an inoperative elevator to the press box. John has been announcing sporting events for 60 years and his daughter Cathy has been his spotter and assistant in the press box for football games for 3o years. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

John Pritchett is assisted by his daughter Cathy as they announce the first half action from a makeshift table as Kincaide Stadium had an inoperative elevator to the press box. John has been announcing sporting events for 60 years and his daughter Cathy has been his spotter and assistant in the press box for football games for 3o years. Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he announces action during the first half of a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s. Photos of the Sunset versus Fort Worth Southwest game were taken at John Kincaide Stadium ,9100 S. Polk Street in Dallas, on September 10, 2026.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning NewsLongtime sports event announcer and cross country starter John Pritchett explains rules and guidelines before the start of the Girls Class 5A Region 2 race. The Class 5A Region 2 boys and girls cross country teams competed at Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie on October 23, 2023. (Steve Hamm/SpecialContributor)

Longtime sports event announcer and cross country starter John Pritchett explains rules and guidelines before the start of the Girls Class 5A Region 2 race. The Class 5A Region 2 boys and girls cross country teams competed at Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie on October 23, 2023. (Steve Hamm/SpecialContributor)

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He has called games or meets for the greatest athletes to come out of Dallas ISD: Hall of Famer Chris Bosh and seven-time NBA All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge in basketball, Hall of Famer Tim Brown and Pro Bowlers Jessie Armstead and Richmond Webb in football, and Olympians Roy “Robot” Martin and McClinton Neal in track.

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“It’s a lot of fun,” Pritchett said. “If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t do it. I enjoy being around the coaches and the athletes. It keeps me going.”

Pritchett, sharp as a tack, is still doing public-address announcing for Dallas ISD football games again this season. He doesn’t know when he’ll stop.

“That’s kind of up to the good Lord,” he said. “I have a neighbor that tells me that at my age, I shouldn’t buy any green bananas, so it’s kind of one day at a time. Nobody seems to be concerned about my age or anything. They just keep calling me, giving me a schedule and telling me where to be.”

Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he shakes hands with Matthew Mullins, 11, after the youngster asked for and received an autograph from the legendary Dallas ISD athletic events announcer prior to the start of the game. Pritchett announced action during the football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s.

Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett is pictured as he shakes hands with Matthew Mullins, 11, after the youngster asked for and received an autograph from the legendary Dallas ISD athletic events announcer prior to the start of the game. Pritchett announced action during the football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and is doing so in his 90’s.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning News

Pritchett started announcing for Dallas ISD at the Kimball Relays track meet in 1964, when the scheduled announcer couldn’t make it because of inclement weather. But he got his start in the business in the 1950s during the Korean War, when he sprained his ankle and couldn’t play basketball for his company team.

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Luckily, he had a tape recorder with him and would do play-by-play for the games. When the Armed Forces Network needed announcers for its sporting events, Pritchett got talked into trying out and found his calling.

“I’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of experiences over the years,” he said. “I still enjoy it.”

Pritchett was the voice of the UIL state track and cross country meets for 33 years. He worked the state volleyball tournament for 22 years and the state baseball tournament for five years. He has done PA announcing for many different Dallas ISD sports, and he still works TAPPS state championship events.

“He is a very likable person. I have not met anybody who ever said a negative thing about him,” said former Dallas ISD athletic director Troy Mathieu, now the chief of athletics for Grand Prairie ISD. “Great personality, and then you go to those pipes and that awesome voice he has. It’s distinctive and commands a presence to everyone in the audience. Everybody recognizes his voice as the voice of Dallas ISD. It’s a legendary voice.”

Related: Voice of generations: John Pritchett has seen, said it all in 50 years as PA announcer

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Longtime Dallas ISD sports announcer John Pritchett delivers the starting lineups via the public address system just prior to the start of the Carter versus Lincoln varsity football game held at Wilmer Hutchins Stadium. Within reach are a pair of binoculars passed down to John from his dad. Pritchett has been announcing sporting events for half a century. The two teams played their game at Wilmer Hutchins Stadium in Dallas on September 18, 2014.

Longtime Dallas ISD sports announcer John Pritchett delivers the starting lineups via the public address system just prior to the start of the Carter versus Lincoln varsity football game held at Wilmer Hutchins Stadium. Within reach are a pair of binoculars passed down to John from his dad. Pritchett has been announcing sporting events for half a century. The two teams played their game at Wilmer Hutchins Stadium in Dallas on September 18, 2014.

Steve Hamm – Special Contributor

Pritchett has been recognized for his work again and again, including induction into the halls of fame of the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association, Dallas ISD athletics and Adamson, his alma mater. On Saturday, the Dallas Coaches Association cross country meet at Wilmer-Hutchins was named after him.

The only negative thing anyone has said about Pritchett’s work? He wasn’t enough of a homer while working basketball and volleyball games for UT-Arlington.

“I got called in and told, ‘John, you do a good job, but you’re not very exciting,’ ” he said. “That’s true. I’ve always been neutral. I would give as much enthusiasm for the visiting team as UTA. He said, ‘We don’t want an announcer, we want a cheerleader.’ ”

There was only one time in his life he almost gave up announcing. Pritchett was calling games at Kincaide Stadium a few years ago when the elevator to the press box stopped working.

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“I said, you’ll have to get somebody else. I can’t climb up to the press box. That’s more than I can handle,” Pritchett said. “So what they did was set me up with a table at the front of the upper deck and gave me a microphone.”

That Pritchett got into sports announcing, especially for track, shouldn’t be a surprise. He was a miler in high school and has run 15 marathons, including Boston.

His lifelong goal was to break 5 minutes in the mile, and he achieved it while in the Army, running 4:58 at a military track meet. He never got a chance to celebrate.

“I was thrilled to death, and when I got back to where I was stationed, I went up to my room and turned on my radio,” he said. “They broke in with a bulletin that Roger Bannister had broken the 4-minute mark on the same day that I broke the 5-minute mark, so I never told anybody.”

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Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett exhibits laser focus as he follows first half action while his daughter Cathy assists by spotting players. The two teamed up to announce a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and his daughter Cathy has been alongside for half that time.

Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium public address announcer John Pritchett exhibits laser focus as he follows first half action while his daughter Cathy assists by spotting players. The two teamed up to announce a football game between Dallas Sunset and Fort Worth Southwest. Pritchett has been announcing DISD athletic events for six decades and his daughter Cathy has been alongside for half that time.

Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning News

What he will tell everybody about are the athletes competing in Dallas ISD. He does PA announcing for football, track, soccer, basketball, volleyball and swimming, with a little baseball sprinkled in.

“I think it starts with his love for Dallas ISD and the student-athletes there and the coaches,” Mathieu said. “I don’t think he ever did it for the money. It’s just a passion. That has allowed him to have such longevity. Mr. Pritchett did not allow himself to get burned out because he is so enthusiastic about the events and watching the student-athletes compete, and he is always rooting for them.”