No ordinary Joe
Former Welland Tribune journalist Joe Barkovich is the 2024 Welland sportsperson of the year. Photo: BILL POTRECZ
When Joe Barkovich took a call recently from Ron Lemon he figured his long-time buddy was reaching out to schedule one of their regular constitutionals.
“I didn’t think anything of it,” Barkovich said. “We walk together so I thought maybe we were going for a walk.”
Barkovich was shocked when he discovered the reason Lemon was calling was to inform him he had been selected unanimously as the 2024 Welland sportsperson of the year.
“I was totally shocked,” Barkovich said. “I had no expectation.”
Even after Lemon, who is the selection committee chair, told him the news Barkovich wasn’t sure if his friend was serious.
“I said, ‘Ron, I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say. Is this some kind of a joke?’
“I still don’t know why.”
Barkovich, a 77-year-old proud native of Welland and Notre Dame graduate, spent a decade on the H.L. Cudney Memorial Award selection committee as well as serving on the Welland Sports Promotion Committee, the Welland Sports Wall of Fame Committee and the Tribune Boys Basketball Tournament Committee over the years.
“It was very special to have him tell me rather than somebody else,” Barkovich said. “I like Ron and we’ve been together for many years and we’re pretty close.”
Barkovich said when he was part of the selection committee, he had several factors he looked for when choosing a winner.
“Dedication, commitment, going the extra mile, always giving more than what you have to give, reaching back, reaching deep for what you have, stuff like that,” he said.
And while he is too humble to say it himself, those traits describe Barkovich to a tee.
“Well, it makes me feel very proud, of course,” he said when asked how he felt about the award. “All the effort was worth it. All the commitment, all the time you put into something, I don’t want to say paid off, but it was worth it.”
Barkovich, who spent 43 years as a journalist at the Welland Tribune before retiring in 2012, feels volunteers are the backbone of a community.
“It’s very important for these little programs, all these teams, leagues, events. It just wouldn’t happen,” he said. “I think it’s very uplifting to a community. It makes heroes of these little kids, older kids too. And it does, it really does.”
Barkovich, who was very active in his parish where he started the St. Kevin’s food bank and the Soup’s On scholarship fund, said he somehow made sure to find the time to give back.
“I don’t know, I really I don’t. But I made time, he said. “And once again, that’s only for love of community, nothing else. You don’t expect anything from it. You don’t want anything from it. You just give it yourself.”
Barkovich feels his time as a reporter in Welland — he wrote occasional sports stories but generally stuck to news — gave him a unique insight into the community
“That helped big time. I learned about all the different kinds of organizations there were and what it takes for each one of them to have some measure of success in what they do and in the community itself. How they have to reach out constantly for new people. It’s a never-ending challenge.”
Barkovich remains active in retirement, writing blogs, tending to his beloved roses and contributing to the Tribune Tournament program.
The presentation of the H.L. Cudney Award will be among the highlights of the Welland Sports Awards Night banquet Friday, April 4, at Casa Dante.
Barkovich is looking forward to seeing some old friends, but not to his acceptance speech.
“Well to be honest with you, I’m dreading it,” he smiled. “I’m not a good speaker. I don’t like crowds, intimidated by crowds. So, it’s going to take a little bit of courage to get up there and accept that award.”
H.L. Cudney Memorial Award winners
1962, Ed Learn, professional football
1963 Tom Brooke, hockey, golf
1964 John Belcastro, high school basketball
1965 Jack Ballantyne, minor hockey
1966 Jane Haist, track and field
1967 Diane Morden, youth bowling
1968 Tony Koch, minor soccer
1969 Joe Chiki, bowling
1970 Reg Redshaw, fastball, minor hockey
1971 Ken Rhora, fastball
1972 Aurel Gervais, Club Champlain
1973 Sandy Billyard, junior golf
1974 Bill Brown, amateur marksmanship
1975 Marion Kelly, swimming
1976 Don (Red) Warren, minor hockey
1977 Dan Radobenko, senior baseball
1978 Cathy Sherk, amateur golf
1979 Frank Degazio, boxing
1980 Brian Gyetko, tennis
1981 Rick Hales, Barry Tuttle, slo-pitch
1982 Nestor (Doc) Brauweiler, trainer; Ed Pringle, minor baseball
1983 Wayne Groulx, junior hockey, baseball
1984 Steve Bauer, amateur cycling
1985 Ivar Noren, Niagara South Rowing Club
1986 Chad Wismer, soap box racing
1987 Mike Mitruk, baseball
1988 Ray Napper, boxing
1989 Gord Sykes, swimming
1990 Brian Gyetko, tennis
1991 John Benko, golf
1992 Diane Eller, triathlete
1993 Tom Glesby, boxing
1994 Jack (Jocko) Lauzon, horse racing
1995 Pauline Maurice, fastball
1996 Jack Randall, basketball
1997 Sharryn Oleskiw, duathlete
1998 Paul Beeston, professional baseball
1999 Kelly Nagy, university soccer
2000 Larry Jaroslawski, Wayne Jaroslawski, minor baseball
2001 Wayne Redshaw, sports journalism
2002 Lynda Lemon, duathlete
2003 Dan Paille, junior hockey
2004 Karen Dzugan, cheerleading coach/judge
2005 Rob Noyes, marathon runner
2006 Jim Briggs, amateur golf
2007 Matthew Maracle, Special Olympics softball; Ralph Nero, basketball
2008 Mike Hominuck, amateur and professional lacrosse
2009 Stacey Allaster, Women’s Tennis Association CEO
2010 Ron Lemon, basketball
2011 Sabrina D’Angelo, university soccer
2012 Wally Mole, Welland Sports Wall of Fame
2013 Jeanne Glavac, amateur golf
2014 Tribune Boys Basketball Tournament
2015-2017 No award
2018 Michele O’Keefe, basketball
2019 Nappers Boxing Club
2020 Mike Rao, basketball
2021 Sandy Forand, officiating
2022 Jerry McDougall, hockey (posthumously)
2023 Cal Clutterbuck, hockey
2024 Joe Barkovich, community journalism
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