A familiar face and a booming voice will be missing when students roam the halls and stroll into classrooms at Noblesville High School this fall.

Bob Tremain, a former educator, coach and athletic director and an all-around good guy, took early retirement after the 2009-10 school year.

But his many friendships, acquaintances and memories remain. So does that deep, booming voice. All you have to do is hear it. Even with your eyes closed or if you are looking the other way or possibly involved in heated conversation, well, you know Bob Tremain has entered the building.

He greets folks with a firm hand shake and strong eye contact, followed by that booming, deep bass voice, which is one of the more recognizable sounds you will ever hear.

Bob Tremain’s life and devotion to youth have been as big and memorable and his distinctive voice.

You could say he’s both loud and proud.

“I would not trade anything . . . would not do anything over again differently,’’ he told me during a recent conversation at the Noblesville Elks Club.

Showing some emotion, Tremain said, “I’ve been blessed. “I’ve had some great things happen to me and I did so much during my career. My parents are still alive. They’ve been there with me every step of the way. I’m one lucky guy.

“And the kids . . . wow, it’s been about the kids. I truly love the kids I’ve been fortunate to be around. I’ve tried to do my best to help shape their lives the right way.’’

Tremain – also quite a character and pretty much a Guy’s Guy the way he likes to tell jokes, kid his friends, reminisce and talk sports – is not exactly walking away alone. His best friend, former Noblesville and Huntington baseball coach Dennie Kas, also decided to take early retirement at the same time. Kas is an instructor at Trinity Ballpark, an indoor and outdoor instructional baseball facility at 161st Street on the Southwest side of Noblesville.

Tremain, however, isn’t sure what he wants to do, though he plans to travel, spend time with family and friends, and also hopes to continue his public address duties for the Indiana High School Athletic Association and Noblesville sporting events.

Tremain – who has worn many hats as an educator, coach and administrator – attended Marshall High School and later returned to the Eastside school to teach. He also taught and coached at his alma mater, Indiana Central, since renamed the University of Indianapolis. “I think it’s pretty neat to play sports at the same school and then come back to teach and coach,’’ he said, proudly. “I doubt too many people can say they had such an opportunity.’’ In 1973, Tremain spent his first six years teaching biology and coaching football, wrestling and baseball. He returned to his collegiate alma mater in 1979 and spent 10 years as an assistant professor of health and physical education, the head baseball coach, assistant football coach, and the voice of the Greyhounds on radio and the public address system during the basketball season. He spent 37 years as an educator. His teaching career included 27 years as a high school teacher and coach and 10 years as an assistant professor and coach. He taught biology and physical education at Noblesville High School for 21 years. He also served as girls athletic director at Noblesville for six years.

Some of his best memories, he says while flashing a contagious and pleasing smile, are those of his relationships with students and staff and, of course, being able to share his booming voice while sitting behind a microphone. He’s served as public address announcer at the Indiana high school football finals and the state track and field championships for many years and also has been the man behind the microphone for countless Indiana All-Star mid-summer series

basketball games and the North/South High School football All-Star games.

Of course, he has a real appreciation for being able to be the Voice of the Millers. To hear him talk about that, well, it’s simply a passion. His eyes light up as big as the football lights at Hare Field on a Friday night when he talks about it.

“Yep, pretty special times,’’ he said with a satisfying wink.

“Special’’ is a good way to describe Bob Tremain, too. He’s even been involved in events away from school where he’s helped raise money for various charities, including the Noblesville Elks. When the Elks host their food tent and grill hamburgers and hot dogs during the annual Noblesville Street Dance, Tremain has been known to stand in the middle of the square and, utilizing that booming voice, coax townsfolk to get over to the tent. And you can bet he gets their

attention with such a persuasive voice.

On a personal note, I got to know Bob Tremain when he was coaching in college. I was working for the now-defunct Indianapolis News at the time, and I often wrote a small-college notebook. When he left to return to high school teaching and coaching at Noblesville, he still had the story I wrote about him leaving the south side college, he recently told me. So, I can honestly say it’s nice to have the opportunity to again write about him in his final departure from helping educate youth and helping many of them hone their athletic skills. It’s also nice to know he plans to stay in the area. That means a lot of folks will still have an opportunity to enjoy his deep, booming vocal offerings at sports events, hopefully for many years to come.

When he looks back on his career and his accomplishments, he can say he’s genuinely hopeful that he left a positive mark on the kids, and that the students he taught and the athletes he coached are better off today because of the example he set and his dedication and passion to his trade.

Quite frankly, many of us whose life he’s touched are better off for just having the opportunity of getting to know him.

Mark Morrow is Your Sports Source at Hamilton County Sports Daily. You can e-mail mark@hcsportsdaily.com or call him at 317.460-8018.