Derrick Webb and Michael Throne, Editor10:17 p.m. EDT July 8, 2016

CHILLICOTHE – When the high school sports season starts next month, the “Voice of the Scioto Valley Conference” will change.

Mike Smith, a local radio mainstay for more than 37 years, was not retained by the iHeartMedia stations in Chillicothe, as of Friday. Smith was not only news director at the WKKJ-FM and WBEX-AM, but a noted play-by-play voice for SVC sports for many of his years there.

Smith confirmed that he was no longer with iHeartMedia in a post on his private Facebook page and to the Gazette.

“I would want to thank all the owners and managers that allowed me to do a job that was a dream of mine since I was 12,” he said in a statement. “I have been blessed by faithful listeners and the great broadcasters I have worked with over 37 years.”

Smith cut back his schedule of broadcasting games in recent years, choosing to let others do play-by-play on football games, but kept a regular schedule of volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball.

Local coaches and officials gave thanks to Smith for everything he's done during his time with WKKJ and WBEX.

"(Smith) is the first person I think of when I think about SVC athletics. Since I can remember, his voice and appearance are synonymous with everything that is great about athletics in our conference," Unioto basketball coach Matt Hoops said. "He was the best in every aspect. It was his voice I would have in my head when I was 10 years old shooting baskets on my driveway, hoping someday to hear him call a game I would play in. He made so many memories for so many people, special."

Bud Lytle, who worked with Smith as a softball coach from 2012 to 2015 and as a detective from 2007 to the present time, echoed those sentiments.

"When I was growing up playing sports, Mike Smith was the voice of the SVC. Period," Lytle said. "That's who you associated with when it came to sports in our area. He has covered every big game that I can remember. From the time I was in high school to the time I started to coach, he was there. He was just an absolutely tremendous advocate for all of our local athletes."

Local listeners expressed shock on iHeart’s Facebook page with one person writing, “Very disappointed in your company for not retaining Mike Smith. He is loved by many in central and southern Ohio. Your company obviously has no idea about the impact he has on our region.”

During his career, Smith has covered hundreds of championship games a well as Adena's girls' basketball state championship in 1994 and Paint Valley's baseball state title in 1995. Smith was named Associated Press Sportscaster of the Year four times as well as the AP News Anchor of the Year once.

Smith is a member of the Zane Trace Tip-Off Classic Hall of Fame, has led his station to AP Ohio Most Outstanding Sports Operation 19 times, and is a two-time winner of the OPI Award for Best Public Affairs Interview in Ohio for The Sounding Board.What’s next for Smith is exactly known, but he’s upbeat. “God has a plan for each of us, and I'm excited to find out what the next chapter is for me,” he said.