FORT PIERRE—Time is finally running out on Terry Tople.

Tople is concluding his nearly four-decade run as the official time-keeper for Stanley County athletics. As the season plays out at Stanley County, so do his official duties: His final volleyball game came on Oct. 13 with the Lady Buffs’ match against Sully Buttes; Thursday’s game against Miller was his last football game manning the clock at Ole Williamson Field.

He will continue to keep time on the basketball court until the season concludes.

Courtesy photo Terry Tople, Stanley County athletics timekeeper, is retiring this season after almost 4 decades. Advertisement

Tople eased into the job as a young man in the 1972-73 basketball season after then-athletic director Ron Lawrence asked him if he wanted to give it a try. He joined the football crew in 1973.

“He said as long as you’re at the games anyway you might as well get paid for it,” he said. “It’s always been fun being there with the kids. The playoff games are always exciting.”

Tople said the conditions were much more primitive at Williamson Field until the press box was refurbished a few years ago, and the equipment has seen an upgrade, as well.

“One game, I couldn’t get the clock running so I was pounding on it using a pencil,” he said. “Then I couldn’t get the pencil out.”

Seating was cramped, especially at games that drew a lot of extra media attention.

“One playoff game we must have had four radio stations there, and I was pushed up against the wall trying to run the clock,” he said.

The old scoreboard displayed just the time and score, Tople said. The latest one installed earlier this decade has Tople keeping track of the downs, time outs and spot of possession. A separate 35-second clock was also added but Tople does not run that.

“They have an extra guy to run that,” he said. “I tried once or twice to do both but it’s hard to keep track of two separate things.”

One of the pitfalls a timekeeper has to guard against is keeping focus – something Tople said was not always possible when you’re also a Buff fan.

“You can get really involved in a game and forget what you’re there for,” he said. “It may not be important until it’s the end of the game. One opposing coach really got on me because I forgot to shut the clock off in a close game. He was letting me know about it. But the referees pretty much keep a running time and they will add or take off time if it needs it.”

Time has moved fast in the decades. Tople watched his sons, Jay and Andy, put on the pads for the Buffs as well as numerous nephews and cousins. He said he has never missed a football game and has failed to attend only one girls’ basketball game and four boys basketball games.

But the gridiron and the hardwood just scratch the surface of Tople’s contribution. In addition to volleyball, Tople has run the clock for wrestling, gymnastics and track meets. He was also on the field for junior high and junior varsity games and has been at countless YMCA basketball games.

“I used to do 100 games a year, boys and girls,” he said. “You’re talking fifth, sixth and seventh grade. And I also did the men’s city league games. So it was pretty much a seven days a week job.”

“That’s one of the reasons I think maybe’s it’s time to quit,” he said. “The kids I remember playing when I started are in their 40s now. I was talking to Scott Deal and he has his boys that played and now has some grandkids coming on the way. It time to get out when the third generation come on.”

Tople has grandkids of his own that he wants to watch develop as athletes without having to keep on eye constantly on a clock.

“They’re starting to play some Y ball and you got to be able to watch them when they’re little,” he said.

Still, it will be an adjustment to become just another fan with no more responsibilities than cheering the Buffs and Lady Buffs on to victory.

“I’m sure I’ll miss it,” he said. “I played softball until I was 42 and just walked away. You still get that little itch every so often but it was time to move on. But it’s kind of satisfying to think that they may need three or four people to replace you.”