A new sign has been placed on the fieldhouse at the Lawrence Township Recreation Park. The sign was placed to honor the hard work and dedication of James A. Anderson, who has volunteered to mow and maintain roughly 25 acres of playing fields and grassy areas at the park for the past 19 years. (Photo by Kimberly Finnigan)
CLEARFIELD – In 1949, a young James A. Anderson was one of several players on the Clearfield area’s first All-Star little league baseball team. Now, 70 years later, James A. Anderson has a baseball field dedicated in his honor.
At a surprise ceremony Monday evening, Anderson was honored by the Lawrence Township Supervisors, the Lawrence Township Recreation Park Board and generations of his family, as the baseball field at the Rec Park was officially named the “James A. Anderson Ball Field”
Family members said Anderson spent decades of his life as both a baseball player and a coach for various local teams. He even shared the field with Clearfield High School Baseball Coach Sid Lansberry.
Although Anderson loved baseball, it was his dedication off the field that earned him the special honor. Anderson has been responsible for maintaining the fields and grassy areas at the Rec Park for over 19 years.
James A. Anderson sits astride his trusty Toro mower at the baseball field in the Lawrence Township Recreation Park. Anderson has volunteered to mow the fields and other grassy areas at the park for over 19 years. He said he started mowing after his retirement to help out a friend, but ended up taking over soon after. He said it takes him about seven hours, split between two days to mow the nearly 25 acres of grass at the park. (Photo by Kimberly Finnigan)
“I retired in 1999,” Anderson said. “I always liked baseball and Ardell Shirey was mowing up here at the time. I came up to help Ardell, but I ended up taking over.”
Anderson said it takes him about seven hours to mow the grassy areas, the football field and the baseball field.
“I used to do it all in one day, but now I split it up into two days,” Anderson said. The Rec Park has about 25 acres of grass that Anderson maintains.
“We’re extremely grateful for everything he’s done for us over the years,” Lawrence Township Supervisor Randy Powell. “He’s been such a big part of the park for all these years.”
“I don’t know what we’d do without him,” Township Secretary Barb Shaffner said.
Anderson received a certificate of recognition from the township and from Rep. Tommy Sankey’s office. A sign was posted on the fieldhouse at the ball field, dedicating it to Anderson.
James A. Anderson (seated) wipes a tear of gratitude from his eye during a surprise ceremony Monday at the Lawrence Township Recreation Park. Anderson has volunteered to mow and maintain 25 acres of fields and grassy areas in the park for over 19 years. To thank him for his years of service, the township supervisors and the Rec Park Board named the baseball field at the park in Anderson’s honor. (Photo by Kimberly Finnigan)James A. Anderson, seated, accepts a handshake and certificates of recognition from Lawrence Township Supervisor Jeremy Ruffner at a surprise ceremony Monday at the Lawrence Township Recreation Park. Anderson has been mowing and maintaining about 25 acres of playing fields and grassy areas at the park for over 19 years. His dedication was rewarded when the supervisors and the Rec Park Board named the baseball field at the park in his honor. Also, pictured are Lawrence Township Supervisor Randy Powell (left), Rec Park Board Chairman Larry Putt and Lawrence Township Supervisor Dan Mitchell (right). (Photo by Kimberly Finnigan)
