THOMASVILLE — In his time frequenting the broadcast booth at Thomas County Stadium on autumn Friday nights, play-by-play announcer Randy Young has seen a lot as the voice of Yellow Jacket football.

Young completed his 30th season behind the microphone last week, having held the position since 1986. Needless to say, he has been the witness to a lot of great moments and outstanding players. Now, he looks back on the time he’s had, and to what lies ahead.

Young has had ties to Central since his time as a student at the school, but his love for prep football is rooted much earlier than that, from an influence who was a player at Thomasville.

“The tradition of high school football for me was instilled by my grandfather,” Young said. “When I was a kid I’d hear him tell stories of playing against Valdosta, Albany and some of the top programs. It sounds almost mythic. It almost came full circle as a student and then as a broadcaster, and as a teacher.”

As a child, Young would mute college games and record his own play-by-plays. After his time at as a high school student, he attended Valdosta State, where he called baseball and basketball games as a broadcasting major before calling some football for them as well.

After graduation, the Central job opened up, leading to the reunion that has now lasted for three decades. Over those years, he’s seen all the talent that has come through the football program, like Joe Burns, Ray Drew, and of course, 1993 Heisman trophy winner Charlie Ward.

In terms of his favorite games, it’s understandably tough to choose.

“That’s like naming your favorite child,” Young said. “I’ve been very blessed that while I’ve been doing it, Central’s program has been really good. We’ve had so many great games over the years — the championship game against Marist in 1997, Charlie Ward’s junior and senior year, the state championship against Thomasville… There’s a lot.”

In addition to his time in the booth, Young also teaches the high school’s broadcasting class, where he has his students playing a big role in the pregame show, in addition to more ways he attempts to get his kids involved in the community.

Retirement is something he’s mulling, but stepping down from his radio position is really contingent on his job inside the school.

“I’ve still got got a handful of years before I’ll be able to retire from the classroom,” Young said. “I’ve got our kids at the high school very active in our program and on the radio. I don’t see being able to make a move I’m able to get out of the classroom side of it too. It’s not too far on the horizon, but it’s still out there.”

With the help of the internet, Young’s impact on fans has reached far beyond South Georgia. Central associate head coach Bill Wilhelm has seen this reach firsthand.

“My mom lives in central Florida and hasn’t been able to come to games because of health problems,” he said. “She listens every Friday night. I have siblings in Maine and Virginia that listen to him. It’s their way of being at the games without having to travel. To be able to listen to Randy, that puts them there.”

“I get emails from halfway across the world from soldiers intent on scheduling their day on being able to listen to a football game,” Young said. “They tell me they can close their eyes and for a couple of hours, they’re back home. When you think about something like that, you say, ‘OK, it’s worth it.’”