My dear friends at the city of Bainbridge and the Bainbridge Leisure Services Department bestowed an honor on me Monday evening that I will cherish the rest of my life.

The occasion was the opening ceremonies for the Bainbridge Leisure Services baseball, softball and T-ball league seasons at the Bill Reynolds Sports Park. Bainbridge Mayor

Edward Reynolds, son of the late Bainbridge mayor the park is named for, presented me with a proclamation naming March 16 Joe Crine Day.

After he threw out the ceremonial first baseball and Decatur County Commissioner Pete Stephens threw out the ceremonial first softball, I told mayor Reynolds how special the honor was to me because I had such fond memories of taking pictures of his dear late dad throwing out numerous first pitches. He told me that he was wearing his dad’s city of Bainbridge shirt.

Mayor Reynolds’ dad often told me how special youngsters’ Leisure Services programs were to him and how having a strong Leisure Services program benefits youngsters health. Having the sports park named for him is a rightful lasting tribute to his love and support of children and their leisure services activities.

In addition to the proclamation naming the day for me, Bainbridge Leisure Services Director Al Kelley presented me with commemorative baseballs and softballs with my name on the date of the ceremony.

Through the years I have worked with numerous Bainbridge Leisure Services Department directors and they have all been great friends and great supporters of me.

Former Leisure Services Department Director Jack Palmer and his wife Roslyn, my former colleague at The Post-Searchlight, are dear friends who also strongly supported youngsters leisure services programs through the years.

I have covered three generations of young athletes through the years and have enjoyed every minute of it.

In conclusion, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful Griffin family and publisher Jeff Findley and all the wonderful people at Boone Newspapers for allowing me to have a job I love for 45 years. I am truly blessed.