George Sciranko
George Sciranko had a long and honored tenure as a broadcaster in the Bedford and souuounding area. but here in Bedford County, he was the "Voice of Bedfrod County Sports."
After playing baseball and graduatinf from Bedford High School in 1961, the young man got a job as a bell hop at the Bedford Springs. He worked the night shift, but in the morning he drove to Hagerstown to work at his first love .. radio broadcasting.
This is how George got started in broadcasting. He later applied for a job at a body shop in Ohio, but he did not get the job. In 1963 he got a job at WSKE in Everett under Shorty King.
In the late 1960s George moved to WCRO in Johnstown where he got his first chance to broadcast sports. He broadcasted St. Francis University basketball when star Kevin Porter was leading them to winning seasons. He also got a chance to broadcast the Ferndale High School basketball team deep into the PIAA playoffs. While at WRCO, George became known as "Johnny Rabbit."
George called Northern Bedford's A.J. Nastasi's march to the Pennsylvania high school basketball scoring record in 1998.
After several other moves, he came to Bedford's WBFD and WRAX as "World Famous" George in the early 1970s. Along with Paul Imgrund, George started broadcasting high school football, boys and girls basketball, and wrestling. They also began broadcasting the Independent League Fast-Pitch Softball Finals. George's reports on fast-pitch softball on the radio helped bring the sport to its all-time high in popularity.
Along the way, he coined many phrases, but he is most famous for his shout of "3-point dinger."
In the 1998 PIAA state wrestling final, he announced that Dustin Zeigler of Bedford was a state champ, only to learn that Dustin had been hit with a stalling point late in the match to tie the score. The match went into overtime and Dustin lost. Coach Bill Creps later said that he thought that George was as disappointed as Dustin and he were.
"Everyone, from all facets of life, knew his style," Imgrund said. "I think everybody, even if they didn't know him, thought they did."
George made you feel like you were in the stands watch the sporting event. If nothing was happening he still made it exciting. That is why George will always be remembered as "The Voice of Bedford County Sports."
In addition to his broadcasting, George also played and managed baseball and softball. He also coached the Bedford Legion team, Chestnut Ridge Junior High, and several other baseball teams.
George married Mary Stuby in 1962. They had four children: Jeff, Jennifer, Karen, and George along with seven grandchildren.
George passed away on January 25, 1999 from a heart attack at the age of 55.
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George Sciranko had a long and honored tenure as a broadcaster in the Bedford and souuounding area. but here in Bedford County, he was the "Voice of Bedfrod County Sports."
After playing baseball and graduatinf from Bedford High School in 1961, the young man got a job as a bell hop at the Bedford Springs. He worked the night shift, but in the morning he drove to Hagerstown to work at his first love .. radio broadcasting.
This is how George got started in broadcasting. He later applied for a job at a body shop in Ohio, but he did not get the job. In 1963 he got a job at WSKE in Everett under Shorty King.
In the late 1960s George moved to WCRO in Johnstown where he got his first chance to broadcast sports. He broadcasted St. Francis University basketball when star Kevin Porter was leading them to winning seasons. He also got a chance to broadcast the Ferndale High School basketball team deep into the PIAA playoffs. While at WRCO, George became known as "Johnny Rabbit."
George called Northern Bedford's A.J. Nastasi's march to the Pennsylvania high school basketball scoring record in 1998.
After several other moves, he came to Bedford's WBFD and WRAX as "World Famous" George in the early 1970s. Along with Paul Imgrund, George started broadcasting high school football, boys and girls basketball, and wrestling. They also began broadcasting the Independent League Fast-Pitch Softball Finals. George's reports on fast-pitch softball on the radio helped bring the sport to its all-time high in popularity.
Along the way, he coined many phrases, but he is most famous for his shout of "3-point dinger."
In the 1998 PIAA state wrestling final, he announced that Dustin Zeigler of Bedford was a state champ, only to learn that Dustin had been hit with a stalling point late in the match to tie the score. The match went into overtime and Dustin lost. Coach Bill Creps later said that he thought that George was as disappointed as Dustin and he were.
"Everyone, from all facets of life, knew his style," Imgrund said. "I think everybody, even if they didn't know him, thought they did."
George made you feel like you were in the stands watch the sporting event. If nothing was happening he still made it exciting. That is why George will always be remembered as "The Voice of Bedford County Sports."
In addition to his broadcasting, George also played and managed baseball and softball. He also coached the Bedford Legion team, Chestnut Ridge Junior High, and several other baseball teams.
George married Mary Stuby in 1962. They had four children: Jeff, Jennifer, Karen, and George along with seven grandchildren.
George passed away on January 25, 1999 from a heart attack at the age of 55.
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Class of 2007
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania