News and Announcements
FORMER BADGER AND ST THOMAS TOMCAT CRAIG GILLET NEARLY SETS RECORD
The former London Badger and St. Thomas Tomcat recently completed his Junior season at Youngstown State.
LONDON MINOR BASEBALL, HOCKEY LOSES A FRIEND
|
London minor baseball, hockey loses a friend Thu, July 3, 2008 by Jenni Dunning – London Free Press Dan Pulham dies at age 59 after battling cancer |
He was a coach, a volunteer, a sports fanatic -- and just an all around great guy. And he's gone. Dan Pulham, a long-time volunteer with London minor baseball and hockey, died yesterday of cancer. He was 59. He's survived by his wife Jackie, son Casey and daughter Christine. "We heard he was terminal and that's upsetting. It really shook everybody up," said Len Forester, a fellow coach who knew him for 25 years. Friends will remember Pulham as an entertainer at heart, who loved fixing up old pinball machines. He looked forward to hosting an annual fishing derby weekend at his cottage in Port Burwell. This year's was to be held in a couple of weeks. "It seemed to be keeping him alive," said Carol Burrows, a fellow volunteer from the London Minor Hockey Association. She said the event was a "men's weekend" where they'd buy the fish, have some drinks and relax. Then Pulham would organize a day in August where the men would wait on their wives in return. "He laboured lovingly and never really wanted any accolades," she said. "He was selfless. Just a truly selfless person."
Pulham was given six months to live about two years ago. Though he outlived that deadline, the loss still came as a shock to friends. "He put up a fight. Boy, he put up a fight," said Joe O'Neill, president of the London District Baseball Association and past president of the London Junior Knights. Pulham was a dedicated volunteer who always put his heart into his work, O'Neill said. "As soon as you met Dan, you realized his total reason for being there was to make it better for the kids," he said. "He's what you would hope that every sports community volunteer would be."
Pulham's list of volunteer commitments was long. Just to name a few, he was on the board of the Forest City Hockey League for more than 15 years and was its chairperson. He was the local representative for the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario, and he was a tournament director for the London Minor Hockey Association. Pulham was honoured as volunteer of the year by Baseball Ontario, and he was on the city's ball diamond task force. He was also president of the London District Baseball Association for about 10 years. He was named London's sportsperson of the year at the 2001 Rogers Sports Celebrity Dinner and Auction. He also volunteered for the Canada Summer Games and Ontario Winter and Summer Games.
Pulham was truly one of a kind, said O'Neill, and he can never be replaced. "Dan was a great friend to everybody and incredibly well respected as a sports volunteer throughout the province. No one person can replace everything that Dan has done."
It is my sad duty to advise you that our good friend and former LDBA President, Dan Pulham, passed away today after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
We will advise you of the visitation times and location when available. Please check the London Free Press, Thursday and Friday editions for information as well.
Along with Dan's involvement in local baseball, he was also involved with the London Minor Hockey Association in a number of capacities, including tournament chair and with the GLHA as Chair of the Forest City Hockey League and convenor for the Sunday night boys Juvenile hockey league. His impact on both hockey and baseball in the community cannot be measured.
Dan was involved in minor sports for the most appropriate of all reasons - he wanted to give back to the community that had given him so much fun and enjoyment when he was a young athlete. It was all about the kids.
The void created by Dan's passing is one that cannot be filled by one person. It will be necessary for all of us to pull together to carry on Dan's legacy in minor baseball in London and area.
Sincerely,
Joe O'Neill
President
London & District Baseball Association
Tomcats Host Jr ICBA Teams at Labatt
The St. Thomas Tomcats will be hosting Stoney Creek Thunderbirds at Labatt Park on Saturday, June 28 for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Players in uniform accompanied by a parent will be given a Burger King voucher and an opportunity to win tickets to a Detroit Tigers game. There is no entry fee to any Junior Intercounty game. Come out and see some great baseball. Information about Junior Intercounty baseball is on www.juniorintercountybaseball.ca
