Steve Behr, the legendary pen and voice of High Country sports, died Sept. 5, 2023, at his home in Boone, N.C., following a long illness.

For more than 20 years, Steve's love, passion and work — in that order — was in covering sports for The Watauga Democrat, writing stories about student-athletes from elementary schools to football game bowls.

Often, he would lend his talent and expertise to local radio, commentating with his long-time friend and colleague, Mike Kelly. With an encyclopedic knowledge of all sports, Steve could tell you about an American Football League game in 1965 involving his beloved Broncos as easily as the box score from Watauga's football game the previous Friday night.

But nowhere did his sports acumen shine brighter than when the subject turned to Denver — whether it was about the Broncos, Nuggets or University of Colorado Buffaloes. His older brother, Mike, often expressed amazement that Steve could recall the names of players from those teams when he was younger than 5.

In fact, that was a family trait: A passion for sports was hereditary. Steve's love for sports was passed on to him at an early age from his parents — it was already in his genes. His mom, Mary Behr, played varsity volleyball and field hockey at Illinois State University in the early 1950s. His dad, Ray Behr, was the starting quarterback for Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, in 1949 and 1950 — and was a starter for the varsity baseball and basketball teams, as well.

Later, Steve's passion for sports would lend itself to teaching, as well. He grew up playing football, basketball and baseball in his backyard with his brothers and the neighborhood kids. He coached Pony League baseball in Boulder from 1983-86. From these experiences, Steve developed his well-honed ability to make friends easily, a skill he carried with him his whole life — with sports always the common denominator.

A bit later than this, after graduating from Fairview High School in Boulder in 1982, and from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. in 1987, a drive toward making writing his living earned him his first reporting job, in Monroe, N.C., in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Eventually, he landed his dream job covering all things sports in Boone, N.C., in 1999, at The Watauga Democrat — where he stayed, covering generations of student-athletes and college sports until his illness sidelined him. But even then, Steve would contribute to the newspaper, writing columns and covering sports from afar, or as his health allowed him to attend games. No matter how many challenges Steve faced through the years, he always remained upbeat, positive and able to take things in stride — things always exemplified in his writing.

If the journalism maxim that a local newspaper, to be successful, should have community members in its pages as often as possible throughout their lives, then Steve was an eminently successful journalist. Steve wrote about generations of student-athletes, coaches and parents during his long career covering Watauga County sports. A noted and passionate storyteller, Steve was every student-athlete's biggest cheerleader, knowing from his own youth the courage and drive it took to be successful at any and every level.It could be said that Steve Behr had no children of his own, but that would be wrong. Every child in Watauga County who had a desire to throw a ball, run a sprint or swim a lap was one of "his kids," and he covered their athletic and academic progress with a father's pride.

The pride also manifested itself in an infectious humor; Steve was always one to share his gifts. Many were the nights when, after hours, the newsroom would be treated to Steve's karaoke-contest-winning renditions. And, a jovial imitation of his friends' unique vocal inflections never failed to raise a smile.Steve also shared his love of history, often contributing to the news side of the paper when times called for historic research. He had a passion for writing about Vietnam and the men and women who served during that time.

Steve Behr was loyal to a fault, a true friend who would loan you his last dollar, or come and pick you up on the side of the road at 2 a.m. when your car had broken down. Those are cliches, but they are also true — that was Steve Behr. He never knew how to say no to an asked favor.

His love of life — and particularly live musicals and a special steak dinner on his birthday — was a joy to all who knew him. A giant of a man, Steve was as gentle as the cats he loved and kept as constant companions — unless you tried to bully one of "his kids." From an early age, Steve, a consummate sportsman, would not abide a bully.

Steve Behr was born Dec. 5, 1963, at Community Hospital in Boulder. He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond J. Behr Jr.; his mother, Mary Marjorie Mulkern Behr; and survived by his brothers, Michael Clay Behr and Jeffrey Brian Behr.

A funeral Mass for Steve will be held 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, at St. Elizabeth of the Hill County Catholic Church, 259 Pilgrims Way, Boone, N.C. A memorial reception will follow at Steve's favorite restaurant, Capone's Pizza, 139 New Market Centre, Boone, N.C.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements,