Usher at the 'Shoe marks nearly 30 years at the same post

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- More than 104,000 fans fill Ohio Stadium for most gamedays, and that does not include the countless concessions workers, security personnel, and maintenance team. 

Every gameday, more than 1,100 people get to the stadium hours ahead of kickoff to serve a critical role. They're the team of ushers who manage the massive crowds at the Horseshoe, helping people to their seats and making sure people who need assistance get help. 

For nearly three decades, Trevor Zahara has been one of those people who make sure guests get where they need to go.  

"He just, he's incredible,” Greg Waits, a supervisor of ushers in B-deck in Ohio Stadium, said. “I mean, everybody knows who Trevor is."  

Zahara has been posted at the tunnel for section 8B during his entire 28-year run as a stadium usher and B-deck is a fascinating place to see a Buckeye game.  

"I don't have to worry about the rain and the snow," Zahara said, speaking while sitting in the shade provided by the overhanging C-deck.   

Zahara said he’s a man who enjoys consistency. 

"I've been here 28 years, I was with Xerox for 36 years, I've been married to the same wonderful lady for 52 years, so you can see that there's not a whole lot of change that I enjoy in my life,” he said. 

Zahara graduated from Ohio State and served in Korea for the U.S. Army. Those leadership and communication skills come in handy while handling the busy gameday crowds.  

"You've got to be a people person, outgoing, and just making sure that the guests get what they want,” said Brad Blakenship, who has spent all of his ten-year OSU usher career posted up with Zahara at 8B.  

Over the years, Zahara's watched families grow up together in his section and he's become personal friends and golfing buddies with many of the people who love the view from 8B. Over the years he's compiled so many stories, he decided to write a book.   

"I've probably seen it all,” he said.  

That book, "Confessions of an OSU Usher,” was published in 2014. He then wrote a sequel book, "Buckeye Tailgate,” in 2022.  

"I did over 350 presentations in 22 different states for the alumni associations and all kinds of other organizations,” Zahara said. “My phone just kept ringing off the hook.” 

Zahara also leads stadium tours for the public during the week, and he's become as much of an expert on Ohio Stadium as many people who work in the building daily. 

"He knows everything about Ohio State football, anything that's going on in the stadium, stadium tours, everything,” Waits said. "He treats everybody like they're one of his family members. That's what makes him special.”