If you’ve been to a home sporting event at Vardaman High School this year, then you’ve heard 16-year-old John Macon Gillespie, although you may not have realized it.
Gillespie, with his incredibly deep, mature voice, has become the voice of the Rams working the P.A. system for all sports.
It all began last year in what he described as “a fluke.”
“We were practicing for a group talent routine for Beta club in the gym using the microphone and I was playing around using a dramatic voice and Coach D (Deanna Winter) liked the way I sounded and asked me if I would do the starting lineups for the girls’ basketball game,” Gillespie said.
He introduced the starting lineups for the girls’ home playoff game and was hooked, not just by his love for doing it but the other coaches wanting him calling their games.
“Coach (Billy) Dill let me do girls’ softball last season,” Gillespie said. “It really took off from there.”
This fall was the ultimate experience for Gillespie, calling Ram football games from the press box atop Carter Field.
“I’ve always wanted to do football. My family loves football,” he said. “We’re huge Ole Miss and Dallas Cowboys fans and I’ve been getting on my NCAA or Madden (video) games and turning the volume down and doing the commentating myself since I was six or seven years old.”
“I’ve grown up listening to David Kellum do Ole Miss games on the radio and Al Michaels and John Madden doing NFL games, I’ve always loved it.”
Gillespie has just entered his first season of handling all basketball games, which he said is much more challenging than football, baseball or softball.
“For one, I’m not in an enclosed area, the fans are right behind me where I sit,” he said. “There’s also so many more rules as to when I can talk, which isn’t a factor in the other sports.”
Gillespie said he loves working with all the sports and adding his voice to the big plays are great fun.
“We had big plays from Deon (Johnson) or Trae (Owen) this football season and home runs in softball are big too. Walk-off winners in the bottom of the ninth are great to call.”
Those plays can also be the most difficult too, however.
“They’re difficult because I get really into sporting events, especially football, but I have to put a filter on when that microphone is on,” he said.
His role on the microphone makes Gillespie feel a part of the athletic program, which is important to him as well.
“I love being a part of the school, being able to support the athletic teams. I love this school. I love the people, the coaches, players, everybody. Being there for them and the fan base is the best part of the job.”
When describing his style, Gillespie said he prefers to remain cool and even tempered on the microphone.
“Whether our team wins or loses, supporting the team and not getting carried away for one side or the other is important,” he said. “I try to stay as impartial as possible.”
Gillespie said it’s common for people to be amazed at the sound of his voice.
“I remember when I was in school at Houlka, I was walking down the hall talking to someone and a new kid in front of me turned around thinking I was a teacher, not little 5’9” 120-pound me,” Gillespie said. “I’ve been told multiple times I sound like a grown man.”
Where that voice came from isn’t exactly clear.
“It just came. One of my granddaddies (Roger Lucius) has a deep voice. My daddy sings tenor. I don’t know really where it came from.”
John Macon is the son of Michael and Lillie Gillespie of Vardaman. His father is the principal at Bruce High School.
“It’s not as awkward as people might think,” he said of his role with Vardaman while his father wears Blue and Gold. “He’s supported me as much as anyone. I pick at him some here and there about my Rams and his Trojans, but really it’s a lot of fun.”
He said his father has been able to attend a few of the games he’s called and is surprised as anyone at his voice.
“He likes how I sound,” Gillespie said. “He’s said before that it doesn’t even sound like me to him.”
Just a junior at Vardaman, Gillespie has another full year as the voice of the Rams, but the straight-A student hopes to take it even further.
“I’m leaning toward going into broadcast journalism at Ole Miss,” he said. “I’d like to do announcing, definitely interested in pursuing it as a career.”
Even after graduation, Gillespie hopes to continue his role behind the mic at VHS.
“I’d love to continue doing Vardaman football for as long as I can,” he said.