Clinton man keeping score for over 40 years

CLINTON, Ill. (WAND) — One man in Clinton has helped keep the score at sports games in Clinton for 47 years, and he isn't putting the pencil down just yet.

Dee Shonkwiler has been keeping score for nearly half a century for the Maroons' games, home and away.

Shonkwiler told WAND News, keeping score, "It's not rocket science. It's a piece of cake to do."

Adding, he just keeps going, "I get a year older. The kids don't. They are always freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors coming in, and I just have a good time. They're great to me."

Five years ago, Shonkwiler was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Hall of Fame but didn't get a ring. So, Clinton Athletic Director Matt Koeppel made sure he had the bling to match.

Koeppel told WAND News, "I said we're going to fix this. So, I got a hold of the guy that does our class rings and I said, 'Can you help me customize a one of a kind IBCA hall of fame ring?' and he was over the moon to give it a shot."

Shonkwiler said getting his ring during the football season humbled him: "It's really humbling to me because, again, I don't feel like I deserve any recognition. I just do the book, and I have a great time with it."

However, the Clinton community disagrees, saying he deserves all the accolades: "You talk about the ring being one of a kind. Dee Shonkwiler is one of a kind. He just loves it."

Shonkwiler told WAND News he will continue keeping score until he no longer can,

"I do it because I love it. And as long as my brain up here will still work, I'm going to keep doing it for at least 50 years total, and maybe, I mean, if my brain is good, I'll keep going."

Shonkwiler is also affectionately known as 'The Candy Man' because he always has a tub full of candy to snack on at every game.