Volunteer Klimas honored for life of service

Charlie Klimas may no longer be the athletic and activities director for Havre High School, but it is hard to argue that he has ever really left the field, even 16 years after retiring from Havre High School

Klimas started at Havre High in 1976 as a student counselor who coached basketball, football and track, He became student athletic and activities director in 1984. He also periodically taught American government and briefly served as vice principal at Havre Middle School.

Klimas, a Big Sandy native, said he decided to enter the field of teaching and student athletics because options in the small rural community where he grew up were limited.

"It was either farming or education, and I knew I didn't want to be a farmer," Klimas said.

He also said that a former teacher and state senator ,Howard "Swede" Hammond, also from Big Sandy was an inspiration for him and other students in Big Sandy schools to start a career in education.

In 2000, Klimas retired as athletic and activities director and began his own financial services firm, Klimas Financial Services Inc.

But student athletics have remained his passion.

On average, Klimas guesses, he starts and oversees six track meets a year in Havre.

For at least 30, years he has volunteered as a field events judge at state and divisional track meets, where Klimas makes sure all field events are properly set up and rules are followed for field events that include competitive running, jumping, pole vaulting, shot putting and discus throwing.

He leads those coaches charged with measuring distance and certifying results from field events. Those results are then delivered to the award stand once they are certified.

For 16 years, Klimas said, he has organized corporate sponsorship programs, where about 30 to 40 local businesses annually invest $900 to $1,500 for Havre School athletic activities.

Klimas said it is the relationships he has formed throughout the years on the field that have driven him to keep volunteering.

He was selected in 1999 as the Montana Athletic Director of the Year.

Earlier this year, he received the coveted Dr. Jim Elliott Memorial Award from the Havre High Booster Club for his years of service to the school and its athletic program. He was nominated for the award by former high school principal Patrick Conway, who lauded Klimas for his work for the school and the community at large.

He said that he provides services such as ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas, serving as a judge for local debate meets and working with the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce.

He also served as a board member for Bullhook Community Health Center.

"I'm an altruistic guy," Klimas said." I wouldn't have gone into education without being somewhat altruistic, you know," he said. "I just like doing things for people."

He said his favorite thing is watching students develop as athletes from the time they start in a given season to its conclusion.

It is that same altruism that has motivated him to get involved with volunteer efforts beyond the world of sports.

For three years now, Klimas has been involved with the Knights of Columbus, where he serves as their financial assistant and helps manage the organization's finances.

He regularly takes part in organizing weddings and funerals put on by the Knights, along with fundraisers for causes that range from global efforts such as helping Christians in Syria to local causes such as raising money for college scholarships.

Klimas said one example is two annual fish fries that raised a total of $4,200 for St. Jude Thaddeus School.

"I'd go to those and see guys digging in, 20, 30 guys all working together, one cause, you know?" he said.