‘Voice of the Prairie Hawks’ John Randles remembered for kindness

CEDAR RAPIDS — John Randles — “Voice of the Prairie Hawks” — had a “distinctive style, in-depth knowledge and unwavering enthusiasm” when announcing for College Community sporting events.

Randles, who also was an educator in the College Community School District for more than 30 years and spent 15 years announcing at the state wrestling tournament, died last month at the age of 59.

Randles’ brother, Vincent Randles, said that regardless of an athlete’s talent, John treated every student fairly.

“He went out of his way because parents wanted to hear their children’s names called,” Vincent Randles said. “He would boom out during basketball games, for example, ‘Six foot-four center from Shueyville Iowa,’ and give the student’s name. They really appreciated it.”

Randles died April 15, from a heart attack at his home. Vincent — who has lost three siblings in the last 18 months — said he still is in shock.

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As single men, Vincent and Randles would go out to eat five or six times a week together. John’s favorite restaurant was Cancun Mexican Grill & Bar on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids.

“We spent a lot of nights having a margarita and talking about school,” said Chuck Hardin, who has been friends with John Randles since they went to school together at Prairie High School in the 1980s.

Hardin also taught in the College Community School District and retired at the same time as Randles at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Randles, however, “never left the work,” and continued to substitute teach up until the day he died, Hardin said.

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During his time in the school district, Randles taught elementary school and was an administrator at Prairie Point Middle School.

Heidi Hromidko, Randles’ niece who lives in Swisher, knew him as “Uncle Bubba.” “There wasn’t a family event that happened without him,” she said.

If a student wanted to go out for a sport but didn’t have a pair of shoes, Randles would buy the student shoes, Hromidko said. He also would get extra clothes for students who didn’t have any to change into for PE class, she said.

Prairie Point Associate Principal Andrew Davis, who worked with Randles for more than two decades, said Randles “understood school was more than about learning.”

“He showed me what it was like to be fully invested in a school district,” Davis said. “He was one of the kindest, giving people I ever met.”

Rocky Bennett, Prairie High School associate principal and activities director, said anyone who has worked in the College Community School District “got to know John immediately.”

“He taught me how important relationships are — not just with students, but with colleagues, parents, community members and all stakeholders in the school district,” Bennett said.

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