OGDEN — When Carl Arky stepped away from his 18-year run as the radio voice of Weber State sports in 2015, he ended a written statement with his sign-off: “Thanks for your time, this time, ’til next time.”

Next time will be Aug. 31 when WSU football opens the 2024 season at Washington.

Weber State and the man often called “Wildcat Carl Arky” are reuniting for a second stint. Arky was the play-by-play voice for Weber State football and men’s basketball from 1998 to 2015, calling more than 700 games.

“I feel very fortunate,” a tempered Arky told the Standard-Examiner. “I feel very blessed.”

Arky left WSU to work as a producer and reporter for a Cleveland TV station, covering the Cavaliers’ NBA championship in an eight-month stint. He then moved to Missoula, Montana, and launched the SWX sports network in the northwest before returning to Utah as a senior communications specialist for the Utah Transit Authority.

Through it all, Arky never lost the itch to call games as a play-by-play announcer, but with circumstances as they are, it’s a bittersweet moment for him.

“I’m thrilled to be back,” Arky said, “but I miss my friend.”

Arky retired from UTA on June 7. Four days later, Weber State and the Utah sports communities were mourning the loss of Steve Klauke, who died as the victim of an auto-pedestrian crash.

Klauke worked a 34-year career in Utah broadcasting, keying the early days of the state’s sports radio scene. He worked 29 years as the voice of the Salt Lake Bees and nine years at Weber State. After Arky called Weber State football’s overtime upset win at Montana in October 2015, he handed the reins to Klauke.

Now, he reflectively takes them back.

After his last nine years and departure from UTA, Arky planned to fix things around the house, walk his dogs and, well, be retired. Klauke, too — having recently unplugged the mic on his 29-year Bees career, the veteran broadcaster would focus on his Weber State duties and spend summers with his family.

Arky and Klauke had plans to hang out at the ballpark many times this summer.

“I woke up to a text, and life changed,” Arky said. “My change pales by comparison … still trying to get my head around it, to be honest.”

Watching a recent WSU fall camp practice, Arky would pause the conversation to ask about the pronunciation for names of this Wildcats linebacker or that WSU offensive lineman. A broadcasting veteran himself, Arky said he has no worries about being able to call games again once the ball kicks off and the juices start flowing. He’s looking forward to calling games with Jerry Graybeal and David Patten.

There’s excitement about returning to his seats at Stewart Stadium and the Dee Events Center, and Arky almost expressed a feeling of duty to do it while praising the late Klauke as the best of all of the state’s play-by-play gurus.

“Every second counts … and I feel lucky to be here,” he said. “I’m going to make the most of it every day. I think it’s a blessing for me to be able to do it. I’m going to try to hold up the standard — Steve sets the bar really high. I’m not Steve and don’t even think about trying to be Steve, but we’ll do the best we can and do a great job.

“Really, it’s very humbling for me. The circumstances, and missing Steve, and getting another chance to come back — I’m a lucky guy.”