Richard Creary — a resident at South Peninsula Hospital Long Term Care unit, 1963 Kenai High School graduate and a retired U.S. Air Force technical sergeant — was interrupted while watching a western on television the morning of Saturday, Aug. 31. 

It was an interruption he didn’t mind, however. His grandson, Kyle Foree, a running back for the Kenai Kardinals, and the entire team of players and coaches surprised Creary with a visit before Kenai’s afternoon game against the Homer Mariners. 

Kardinal Head Coach Jim Dawson presented Creary with a Kardinal shirt, announcing they were making Creary an honorary captain of the team. 

“I don’t like officers,” said Creary, drawing a laugh.

Before leaving, the team shook Creary’s hand, and, one at a time, thanked the veteran for his military service.

In the afternoon game between the Kardinals and Homer, the Kardinals won 78.6.