Sports Editor Jack Stallard explains the gameplan for The Zone football preview magazine photo shoot in June 2023 in Kilgore. (Santana Wood/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

KILGORE — Once again, I have a group of youngsters to thank for reminding me why I do what I do for a living.

I was fortunate to spend a good portion of my morning Thursday at Kilgore Middle School’s annual Career Day. I always look forward to any career day I’m invited to, but this one is always special since my son attended the same school almost a dozen years ago.

I can still remember him strolling around the tables set up by presenters in the gymnasium, gathering information — along with anything the presenters had on their tables to entice kids to stop and visit with them (I brought water bottles from last year’s photo shoot for The Zone preseason football magazine).

My son only briefly stopped at my table, telling me later he already knew what I did for a living, but he did make sure several of his friends came to see me by telling them “my dad gets paid to watch sports.”

I’m not sure some of the kids Thursday believed me when I told them the same thing. Heck. Some days I have a hard time believing it myself when I realize almost 40 years ago I figured out a way to get someone to give me money for attending sporting events.

The kids I visited with Thursday were all courteous and came loaded with questions. I feel certain the teachers told them that was the expectation, but I also remember being that age and not always doing what my teachers demanded.

I didn’t see one cell phone in the three hours I was there, and almost every kid gave me their full attention when I spoke to them.

A few did seem a little distracted, but I chalk that up to the fact one of the presenters sitting close to my table brought a large snake to the event. I had a little trouble focusing myself each time they brought what looked to be a 19-foot long Copperheaded Water Rattling Cobra Moccasin out of that bucket.

I was impressed with the kids and did my best to answer their questions.

Here’s a small sampling.

Is that a real snake behind us? Yes, it is, and if it gets loose just remember, I don’t have to outrun the snake. I just have to outrun you.

How long have you been doing your job? The end of this school year will be the end of my 38th year covering sports in East Texas.

Why did you choose this profession? I’ve always loved to write, and I’ve always loved sports and this job gives me the chance to combine those two loves.

What is your favorite part of the job? I love writing about the accomplishments of young people and putting that in the newspaper — either online or in print — so others in the community know what a great bunch of kids we have in East Texas.

What is your least favorite part of the job? Occasionally, as hard as I try to avoid it, I spell a kid’s name wrong in the newspaper and then see that kid’s mom at the grocery store a few days later. I’d rather stick my hand in the snake bucket than get chewed out by an angry mama.

What is your favorite sporting event you’ve covered? As for the game itself, probably Kilgore’s 33-27, double overtime win against Dallas Lincoln in the 2004 state championship game.

But my most memorable night at a sporting event was when a man stormed into the press box at a game I was covering and let everyone know rescuers had gotten baby Jessica McClure out of a West Texas well after 58 hours. When the man announcing the game told the crowd, it turned into a giant, 5,000-person group hug.

If I decided to be a sports writer, do you think I would make it 38 years in the profession? Absolutely. Just remember that how you do the job is going to change constantly, but why you do it — the daily fight to keep your community informed — should never change.

Oh. It’ll also help if you don’t play with snakes and make sure the misspelled names are kept to a minimum.