Photo By John Hughel | Jerry Howard of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes baseball team stands along the dugout at...... read more read more
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SALEM, Ore. - Over the past several decades, Minor League Baseball (MiLB) has flourished in big cities to small towns alike. Innovative teams names such as the “Toledo Mud Hens”, the “Albuquerque Isotopes,” and “Lansing Lugnuts” distinguish the unique association to their community and local heritage. With offbeat promotional events from “Hunting Dog Competitions” to “Win a ‘New Used Car’ Night,” the activities bring a flair found only in developmental leagues of the National Pastime.
For more than 23 years, one of these quirky named clubs, the “Salem-Keizer Volcanoes” have played in the Northwest League, a Class A-Short Season 8-team league affiliated with Major League Baseball’s (MLB) San Francisco Giants. The team has won five Northwest League titles and 2012 MLB World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Pablo Sandoval developed his skills at third base playing with the Volcano’s during the 2005 season.
Yet between the T-shirt giveaways and the offbeat promotional events, nothing quite compares to the Volcanoes annual July 4th Patriotic Tribute. Over the past 12 years Jerry Howard has been instrumental in honoring veterans, active duty, and National Guard and reserve service members and family members prior to the start of their July 4th home game. For his years of dedication and enthusiasm, Howard was recently awarded the “Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award” for 2019 for the outstanding Patriot Tribute in the Northwest League.
The Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award is presented to a team or individual in MiLB for outstanding support of the United States Armed Forces and veterans, both at the ballpark and in the community. The award was created in 2016 in honor of the longtime Florida State League president and U.S. Army veteran who passed away Feb. 21, 2015, at the age of 83.
“Jerry Howard’s efforts to acknowledge, thank and honor our servicemen and women, as well as their families, are exemplary of the type of passion deserving of the Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner in a press release revealing the award on Oct 30. “He is very deserving of this award, and as a veteran himself, it is my honor to, on behalf of Minor League Baseball, present him with this award.”
With a love of Baseball that goes back to age five, Howard, a middle infielder, played until he entered the Air Force in 1961. Assigned to Bergstrom Air Force Base outside of Austin, Texas, he later worked at President Lyndon Johnson’s Ranch 60 miles west of the city as Air Force One flew into Bergstrom when the president would travel home from Washington D.C. or other states and nations.
“I was pretty much ‘a gofer,’ and did a great deal of driving, especially when special quest and President Johnson were home,” said Howard, reflecting on his five years in Texas. “I really enjoyed my time in the Air Force and extended for an extra year, but ultimately decided I wanted to get back into Baseball.”
Howard started working as an umpire, working his way up just like the players from the Rookie leagues up to the Triple-A and on the College level.
“I got to umpire five National Junior College World Series, the U.S.A. Vs. China Olympic game,” he said, as he recalled the years of traveling in professional baseball. “Eventually I did some coaching and then into scouting, first for the (Chicago) Cubs and then (Toronto) Blue Jays.”
In January of 2006, Howard began working with the Volcanoes, ‘crossing over the fence,’ leaving behind the on-field work -- for an office job in baseball. He is one of just four full-time staff members working with the team and has a variety of tasks.
“I do a little bit of everything in the office, were just a small staff, but on September 1st each year, I start planning the July 4th Patriot Tribute game.”
It was during the 2008 season that the team honored four National Guard Soldiers that had recently returned from Iraq at the game. The success of that solemn gesture inspired everyone with the Volcanoes to plan for the next year.
The starting point is often the hardest part Howard said, detailing how all the aspects that go into supporting the theme of the event. In many ways, it’s like being a Wedding Planner, as each part has to be carefully considered, thought out, and choreographed.
The tribute now is nearly 90 minutes in length with as many as 200 veterans and service members on the field prior to the first pitch.
“A few years ago we purchased 176 American Flags, which represent 1776,” Howard said. “They circle the entire ballpark and we have almost 30 tables represent military organizations set up so that fans can interact with these groups.”
Static displays of military hardware are often part of the Patriot Tribute and having special guest such as Army Maj. (ret.) Larry Deibert, who flew 578 flights in Vietnam and Navy Capt. (ret.) Greg Woodridge, 3-time Commander of the Blue Angels just to name a few.
“It’s been an honor to be associated with Salem-Keizer Volcanoes for over a decade,” said Maj. Stephen Bomar, Public Affairs Officer for the Oregon National Guard. “The team and Jerry’s commitment to the military play a significant role in our community.”
For Howard, the award is humbling because each year the veterans and currently serving service members the team honors grows and their stories add to the Patriot Tribute.
“This award really belongs to all those who’ve participated over the years – the 2,000-plus outstanding and very brave men and women of the Armed Forces who have attended our annual Patriotic Tributes to be thanked, honored and saluted for their service to our nation,” said Howard.
Howard will receive the award at the Baseball Winter Meetings Banquet on Sunday, Dec. 8, in San Diego, California, adding to his distinct trek during his baseball career.
“I am proud of what Jerry Howard has selflessly achieved with this program, and equally proud of all our active servicemen, servicewomen and all veterans who give so much in the defense of freedom and liberty,” said Volcanoes owner Jerry Walker. “This award recognizes, at its purest form, the power of public service.”
| Date Taken: | 11.30.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.05.2019 14:38 |
| Story ID: | 354450 |
| Location: | SALEM, OREGON, US |
| Web Views: | 299 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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