He's the voice of the Du Quoin State Fair

Jim Childers gives more than 100 announcements daily through the 10-day run at the Du Quoin State Fair from his spot in the administrative office in the grandstand.

He's the voice of the Du Quoin State Fair

Du Quoin State Fair

For more than a dozen years visitors to the Du Quoin State Fair have heard the same familiar voice coming from the expansive public address system -- a voice seemingly coming from the heavens -- guiding, directing and informing them about the myriad of daily events taking place on that particular day.

Jim Childers, of Metropolis, has flawlessly handled those daily announcements from a desk in the administrative office at the fair. Childers estimates that he makes "more than 100" announcements per day talking into the handset of an ordinary land-line telephone.

Childers, who is retired, works only during the days the fair runs but says he really doesn't look at the 10-day run as work.

"It's really like an annual vacation for me," said Childers. "I love the Du Quoin State Fair."

Childers also has introduced many of the performers that have appeared at Du Quoin.

"I try and make a few announcements, be brief, and get the crowd revved up," said Childers.

He noted that Roy Clark was the "absolute nicest" of any of the long list of entertainers he has introduced at Du Quoin.

"I spoke with him prior to the show and called him Mr. Clark and he stopped me in mid-sentence and told me to call him Roy," recalled Childers. "We discussed what he wanted me to say and then I went back to the office and worked on it."

Childers said he added a line on his own to the introduction that tied in with Clark's longtime association with the popular television show "Hee Haw." It was a line that caught Clark's attention.

"The final thing I said before he came on stage was, 'he's pickin' and we're grinnin' - here's the great Roy Clark' and as I was exiting the stage he was coming on stage and he stopped me and told me it was the best introduction he ever had. He is a great entertainer but also a really nice person."

There's an old adage that talks about it being good to be able to put a 'face with a name' - but in the case of longtime Du Quoin State Fair public address announcer Jim Childers it's equally as good to put a face with that very familiar voice that has spoken to thousands and thousands of fair-goers throughout the years.