Greg Schmidt signed off Friday night’s KMMO Game of the Week with his signature count, celebrating his 6,000th play-by-play broadcast. But since 2006, he’s also been counting his blessings to still be alive and able to call so many games.

Schmidt recalls to KMMO News the episode that nearly cost him his life.

The quick response from medical personnel at the game, along with the recent installation of an automatic external defibrillator, brought Schmidt back to life.

Miraculously, Schmidt made a full recovery. Since then, he and his wife Ruth have made it their mission to install AEDs at every school.

Greg Schmidt continues his over five-decade broadcast career, including 41 years with KMMO Radio, with coverage of this week’s Class One, District 14 volleyball tournament in Concordia.