It?s been 20 years since Paul Donovan founded the Columbia Reds, providing hundreds of young baseball players in Howard County an opportunity to compete against the best in the state.
After more than a quarter century of teaching baseball and life lessons, Donovan will lead the county?s third induction class of the Community Sports Hall of Fame, Howard County Recreation and Parks announced Tuesday.
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“It?s amazing there are so many people that want to give there time and effort,” Donovan said. “There are people that were more deserving than I am and have done a lot more than me.”
Donovan has spent thousands of dollars and hours of his free time sustaining the Reds program, transforming it into one of the state?s premier organizations.
“He doesn?t have any children involved in the program, so he is doing this out of the love of the sport and the kids of Howard County,” said Glen Deuchler, a former assistant coach under Donovan. “Once players stop playing for him, the relationship doesn?t end. When they have problems with baseball, or even life, he is one of the first people they call.”
Deuchler?s son, Matt, is one of Donovan?s former players to compete collegiately and professionally. After starring as a catcher for the Reds and James Madison University, Matt played in the Chicago White Sox minor league system before retiring due to a shoulder injury.
“I don?t think I would have gotten to the level I did if it weren?t for him,” Matt said of Donovan, who coached him from the time he was in elementary school through high school. “He was fun to play for and he?s the kind of coach that would do any thing for his players and all he?d ask for in return was hard work.”
The other honorees who will be recognized Oct. 22 at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville are Marie Curry, Jim McCauley, Bill McCormack Jr., Joe Wall and Jim Yedlicka.
Community Sports Hall of Fame 2007 Inductees
» Marie Curry, youth baseball pioneer
» Jim McCauley, former youth basketball administrator
» Bill McCormack Jr., long-time basketball and soccer coach
» Joe Wall, founder of Columbia Optimist Boy?s Recreation Association
» Jim Yedlicka, Director of Recreation for the Columbia Association, 1969-77
