Proposed field to honor Coach Bear
The USA Little League Organization is currently seeking donations for a proposed baseball/softball quad, which will be named in Memory of Holdenville USA Little League VP, Victor Bear. This project will not only give the local athletes an improved practice area, it will provide an opportunity to host tournaments. This will bring out of town teams to Holdenville, where they will hopefully visit local restaurants, stores, gas stations, etc., and contribute to the local economy.
Recently appointed USA Little League President, Kevin Brown gives much of the credit for this project to former President Josh Rollins, who had discussed the idea for the past year. Brown, who is the Chief of Security at Davis Correctional Facility, is originally from McAlester. He states that he had a scholarship opportunity to play at Oklahoma State University, playing football for four years. He recalls all the coaches he’s had in his life and all the extra-curricular activities he had after school, and he greatly appreciates the positive impact they have had on his life. These coaches taught him the importance of giving back to his community. After talking with Rollins and seeing the effort everyone in the USA Little League was trying to make in the community, he was disappointed to find the local kids were having to go to Seminole to join a team. He confides that, as an athlete, he knows how important it is to be able to “show off” in front of a hometown crowd, as well as the hardship it places on parents to make that trip, so they decided to do something about that.
Brown explains he has approached Davis Correctional Facility for a donation to the project. They challenged him to raise $15,000, and if he succeeds the Facility will donate an additional $30,000. There are a number of fund raising efforts they have planned, and they are hoping the community will join them in creating this opportunity to benefit Holdenville Youth as well as the local business community.
Brown states that he would like to encourage local parents and sports fans to join him in contributing not only their money, but their time and energy as well, to help complete as much of the work as possible so they save money for the next phases of this project. This includes dirt work, tree removal, plumbing, electrical, cement foundations, fencing, etc.
Donations can be made at any First United Bank, payable to Holdenville USA Little League.
