Remembering Jason Mueller, “The Voice of the Trojans”
Writer / Kevin Conrad
Photography Provided
Jason Mueller will forever be remembered for his impact on many people in the Center Grove community. He was a husband, father, son, friend, teacher, teammate, classmate and “The Voice of the Trojans.” The Center Grove High School (CGHS) graduate and Walnut Grove Elementary physical education teacher passed away in July after a long battle with colon cancer.
“Jason had a way to make everyone feel special,” says Hannah Mueller, Jason’s wife. “He had a special gift of memorizing small details about people and being able to connect on a personal level. I always knew Jason was bright and beautiful, but I didn’t realize the magnitude of how many students, staff members, athletes, friends, teammates and community members he had impacted over decades. The stories continue to pour in about how Jason made them a better student, person, co-worker and friend. It has been overwhelming in a wonderful sense to see all of the qualities I knew he had carried over into his everyday life.”
“Jason was such an incredibly loyal member of the Center Grove athletic family,” adds CGHS Athletic Director Scott Knapp. “He stepped in and found his niche as ‘The Voice of the Trojans’ and became a vital part of Friday nights. Jason was happy to fill this role because he simply wanted to contribute. His loyalty to Center Grove was evident as a dedicated classroom teacher, a youth coach, student council sponsor and more – all because he thought Center Grove was the best place in the world.”
Many of us in the Center Grove community just knew Jason as the public address announcer for CGHS football, basketball and softball games, but there was so much more to Jason than just his dynamic, booming voice.
“Jason was a loud, silly and loyal family man,” Mueller says. “He worked so hard to make our blended family feel loved and cared for. Even when his health was failing, he found ways to bring joy to our lives. One of his more unexpected hobbies was engaging with online gaming communities. He would often recount the vibrant atmosphere he found on 벳38 사이트, where he could take a break from the everyday challenges and immerse himself in a world of sports and games. He went out of his way to connect with each child throughout their different stages in life, sharing this pastime with them when appropriate. Jason was truly the husband every woman dreams of. He treated me like a queen and loved me for who I am, and always made sure we knew the man behind the laughter and the screen.”
Center Grove resident Sean Guilfoy was Jason’s best friend, dating back to when they were middle school classmates and teammates in Center Grove Little League baseball.
“I loved him like a brother and miss him daily,” Guilfoy says. “Center Grove lost a great person. Everything he did was always to help someone.”
Guilfoy and Mueller were also CGHS baseball and football teammates in the 1990s. Guilfoy recalls his favorite high school story about Jason.
“We played pool until 4 a.m. the Thursday night before a football game,” he says. “We were off of school that Friday, so we played pool. His dad woke up and came out screaming at us because we were still awake. That Friday, we played our best game of the season and we were named players of the game.”
Jason and his family received tremendous support from many in this community during this very difficult time.
“Center Grove Community School Corporation has been wonderful to Jason and our family during his health crisis,” Mueller says. “The Center Grove community itself has rallied behind us, and has ridden the waves of good news and bad right along with us during the past three years. The love and support gave us the sense that we were never alone. This was so important during hospital stays, surgeries and COVID times.”
The tremendous support for the Mueller family has continued.
“So many people have stepped up and have supported our family during Jason’s illness and now during a time of loss,” Mueller says. “We have been blessed by donations, memorials, tributes, cards and letters. Jason had a passion for education. The Center Grove Education Foundation has set up a scholarship fund in his name. Continued thoughts and prayers are needed for Jason’s parents and children during this time of loss.”
“We are honoring him as every football player in Center Grove from the high school to the middle school, down to our Bantam youth league, has a Jason Mueller sticker on their helmet this season,” Knapp adds.
“Jason was the definition of friend,” Guilfoy says. “Jason is what a best friend should be. He was kind, a listener, blunt, quirky, loved you no matter what, full of advice if you needed it, not afraid to show emotion, stubborn and loyal. He made a huge impact on everyone he came into contact with. The amount of love that has been poured out over the last couple of years and recently isn’t surprising to me. He will be a Center Grove icon and legend forever. He loved his kids and students and this community, and they loved him back. Most people got to know him as Mr. Mueller or ‘The Voice.’ I just knew him, and always will, as my best friend, loyal to a fault to his buddies. We are going to miss him.”
