Jim became acquainted with Gary Gates when his youngest daughter Jeanine played on Gary’s Bobby Sox Softball team. The following year, after he retired, Jim started coaching in the league. Jim says that, “Gary mentored me on how to run a practice and how to make it fun for the girls.”
According to Jim, Gary lived for the softball season. He had a passion for coaching and making it a fun experience for the teams he coached, both at the Bobby Sox and the high school levels. “He has an awesome family that was very supportive of the endeavor.”
When Gary passed away (July 1990) he left a void in the girls’ softball community. Roger Thompson, (a San Marin dad) came up with the idea of a lighted softball field for the girls which would be named after Gary.
When Gary died, his wife Emily asked that, instead of flowers,” give the money to someone that is going to create a lighted softball field for the girls.”
Jim took on the task. In 1991 the Gary Gates Memorial Foundation was formed with Jim as the Chairman. Over the last 25+ years, through numerous fundraising events, (car washes, musical events, the Annual Pasta feed), the donations from local citizens and businesses, support from The Dino J. Ghilotti Foundation and Rotary, a First Rate lighted softball field at San Marin High School is a reality.
Along the way Jim received the 1999 Park and Rec Community Service Award for his work in creating the Gary Gates Field and in 2003, Jim was the Novato Citizen of the Year for his dedication to Gary Gates Field and a number of other community service endeavors.
The whole project is a testimony to what dedicated leadership, thousands of volunteer hours over the years and a supportive community, can accomplish.