As Kirk Emmons celebrated his 97^th birthday with a party at Pinnochio’s Thursday in Media, others recalled how much the man and his business, Bill Battey Sporting Goods, did for the Media Borough community.

Emmons was more of a friend with customers than the owner, as he talked about sports and life, writes Bob Grotz for the Daily Times.

The store at Front and Jackson Streets operated from 1970 until it closed on Dec. 31, 2008, unable to compete with the giant online sporting goods operations.

“It was a joy to work there,” Emmons said. “And in doing that you got to concentrate on really giving people as good of service as you could.”

Emmons had bought the store from Bill Battey, bringing his energy, and his sons, to the operation.

Battey’s was among the first stores in the area to stock Nike Air Jordans, and Chuck Taylors.

It supported local youth teams and helped launch the Media 5-mile race.

Celebrity visitors included the late Tug McGraw, whose son actually worked at Battey’s; Mike Schmidt, Temple basketball coach John Chaney and Joe Frazier, who got some boxing gloves “on the house” from Emmons.

Read more about Bill Battey Sporting Goods and Kirk Emmons in the Daily Times.

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