Happy Birthday, Grandpa! You would have been 88 yesterday.

Maddie, Will, & Hunter are all growing like crazy! Between dance, baseball, softball, soccer, and now flag football, we are constantly on the go.

We had another great year in American Legion baseball. The El Dorado Oilers finished 4th (losing to Bryant and eventual state champion, Fort Smith) in the AAA Arkansas American Legion State Tournament. We were 28-10-1 this summer. The Oilers finished 3rd in the state tournament last year with a 27–10-1 record, losing to eventual state champion Cabot. We beat Cabot 16-3 in the state tournament, as they were 33-3 going into the state tournament.

The El Dorado Drillers (17-12) went 2-1 in Pool Play of the JR State Tournament, finishing 2nd in the pool to the Little Rock Tigers. Lake Hamilton Wolves won the JR State Tournament this year.

Will made the 10U All-Star team, playing for me, as our team finished 2nd in league. He was voted in the Top 5 for 9U All Stars. Maddie made the 10U All-Star team, as they won the FASA 10U State and FASA 10U Regional titles. Hunter started her first year of Coach Pitch at age 4.

Our kids started attending West Side this past year, and they love it! They have improved so much with their learning acceleration. Maddie made all A’s and Will had all A’s and one B in Spelling. Hunter will start Kindergarten this fall.

We miss you everyday. I know you are here with us and that we make you proud.

Hey Grandpa;

It’s been 9 years since the Lord took you home. I hope we all have been making you proud.

Our kids are doing great in school, though they could be doing a little better. They are more dedicated than I was with their schoolwork (though the pandemic has taken away the expectation of being in school), so I hope they finish better than I did. Hunter is a firecracker than I feel may be more intelligent and athletic than all of us. She is certainly quicker on her feet; she’s very witty. You would’ve loved her!

The El Dorado Oilers finished 27-10-1 (10-1 in Zone 4) for the 2021 season; finishing 3rd in AAA Senior State! We had our #4 pitcher out for the year after a hernia the opening weekend. Our 1-B went to Florida to watch his girlfriend in USSSA Softball World Series, and our 1-A and #5 pitchers (brothers) left for a family vacation after we beat the 2020 defending State Champions (Ft. Smith Sportsmen) 12-5 in the opening round. Russellville Pirates and Cabot RailCats (2021 Arkansas State Champions) were out of pitching at the end.

The El Dorado Drillers (17U) finished 13-9, just one win away from the Arkansas JR State Tournament. The two teams that represented our Zone (4) were Texarkana JR Razorbacks and Sheridan JR Yellow Jackets. They met in the State Finals; Sheridan won. The Drillers beat the JR Yellow Jackets 3 out of 4 games this summer.

Will pitched his first no-hitter for the Cubs against the Rockies (11-1 win) in Boys & Girls Club league ball. We have two 10U USSSA teams for the Drillers (North & South), and Maddie is now on a 10U USSSA travel softball team (Team Union County). Hunter is also tearing the cover off the ball!

We miss you everyday. My office with Ameriprise has been blessed through this recent market; work has never been busier. Kelli has been working extremely hard expanding the products at The Olde Towne Store. The Lord has blessed us.

Hey Grandpa!

We miss you! Maddie & Will ask about you often, and Hunter is hitting off of a tee! We spent most of this Covid 19 Pandemic (started as a National pandemic on 02/19/2020) hitting & fielding. Hunter was 2 and consistently hitting off of a tee!

We got them a Franklin return net & catcher target to work on their throwing & catching. Maddie said “This is so cool! It’s like having a best friend!”

Will played with a travel ball Coach Pitch 8U team last fall, as we were the Drillers. Our team finished 13-13 this fall, playing in 4 tournaments and finished 2nd in Keith Smith’s Fall Ball League. For Boys & Girls Club, our Union County Cubs Coach Pitch Team 8U finished 6-0, as our team scored 99 runs and gave up 27 runs. Will hit 7 home runs this fall!

Maddie played with the Galaxy 10U team as an 8 year-old. They played in 4 tournaments and gained a lot of experience. David Lee, Shaun Martin, Kim Blackmon, Brandon Hendricks, and myself coached the Galaxy 12U and Galaxy 10U softball teams. It was a great time!

Maddie played on a 8U Soccer Team and Hunter played on a 5U Soccer Team for the Boys & Girls Club this past fall. Hunter’s team went undefeated at 6-0 and Maddie’s team was 5-1-1, finishing 2nd in the league.

Our El Dorado Oilers 19U finished 6th in Arkansas, as we were 21-12. We finished 2nd in our Zone, behind Sheridan; though Baylor Brumley threw a 1-0 no-hitter against the Yellow Jackets in mid-July! Here is how the Arkansas AAA Senior State Tournament finished:


Tuesday, 07/21/2020
Little Rock 08 vs. Lk Hamilton 01
El Dorado 10 vs. Batesville 04
Texarkana 08 vs. Mt. Home 04
Russellville 11 vs. Paragould 06
Sheridan 15 vs. Brinkley 03
Cabot 13 vs. Bryant 06

Thursday, 07/23/2020
Bryant 14 vs. Mt. Home 00
Fort Smith 10 vs. Little Rock 08
Sheridan 10 vs. Crossett 00
Cabot 13 vs. Texarkana 02
Paragould 07 vs. Batesville 01
Russellville 02 vs. El Dorado 01

Saturday, 07/25/2020
Little Rock 03 vs. Paragould 01
El Dorado 04 vs. Lake Hamilton 02
Texarkana 10 vs. Brinkley 04
Bryant 19 vs. Crossett 00
Sheridan 15 vs. Russellville 10
Fort Smith 09 vs. Cabot 07

Sunday, 07/26/2020
Texarkana 05 vs. Little Rock 03
Russellville 11 vs. Texarkana 01
Bryant 15 vs. El Dorado 01
Bryant 04 vs. Cabot 01
Fort Smith 17 vs. Sheridan 06

Monday, 07/27/2020
Sheridan 05 vs. Bryant 03
Russellville 06 vs. Fort Smith 05
Russellville 17 vs. Sheridan 01

Tuesday, 07/28/2020
​Arkansas AAA Championship

Fort Smith 04 vs. Russellville 03


The El Dorado Drillers 17U finished 10-13 last year. There is a lot of growing up and maturing of that group that needs to happen.

We are still working on the El Dorado/Union County Recreational Complex initiative. Murphy USA (MUSA) just donated 2 kiosks to use as concession stands for the soccer fields and youth grass/dirt fields, and Potlatch/Deltic (PCH) just donated 4 acres to build a college baseball field and parking lot, as the South Arkansas Community College is looking to start a baseball/softball program in 2021-22. We are dealing with politics from a few uninformed people, but you know more than anyone that we’ve been done this road before.

Love you! Look forward to seeing you again one day.

Greg

Happy Birthday, Grandpa! You would have been 86 today.

Kelli, Maddie, Will, Hunter, and I are in Panama City this week for our family vacation. With Covid 19 being an issue since 02/19/2020, found in Wuhan on 12/30/2019, the financial markets, world economy, and global travel have become volatile. It is certainly crazy times.

We had a great year in American Legion baseball. The El Dorado Oilers went 21-12 and finished 6th in the AAA Arkansas American Legion State Tournament. We won two tournaments, though celebrating was muted due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The El Dorado Drillers (10-12-1) win 1 tournament and finished runner-up to the Oilers in another.

Maddie has started practicing 10U live arm softball, and Will will start 8U Coach Pitch practice next week. Hunter started hitting off a tee a week before she turned 3!

We have become more responsible for educating and training our kids. I am actually enjoying it. With this crazy world, we need to be more proactive in leading our kids.

I miss you everyday. I know you are here with us and that we make you proud.

Hey Grandpa!

We miss you! Maddie & Will have been asking about you lately, especially when we start throwing the ball. We got them a Franklin return net & catcher target to work on their throwing & catching. Maddie said “This is so cool! It’s like having a best friend! We don’t need you anymore, Daddy!” Lol... if she only knew... These kids are so awesome. Hunter may be a southpaw, too! Will is getting very good at throwing left-handed.

I spent yesterday in Jacksonville @ the American Legion Baseball ⚾️ Winter Meeting. I’m the Zone 4 Commissioner, but it’s always political. I showed up with 19 games scheduled for our Jr Team & 22 games scheduled for our SR Team. I got Sheridan & Texarkana scheduled after Commissioner Jeral Howard finished up, and I was out of there in 5 minutes! It is much smoother than 6 years ago when we started back up the program. We have 6 SR teams & 6 JR teams already scheduled for our tournament!

Maddie & Will had their first basketball  game yesterday. Dan Mann, Josie’s dad (Maddie’s best friend), filled in for me. Maddie & Will both scored, but we lost 10-6. Dan was happy to give the reigns back to me.

We have a Union County Coaches’ meeting at the Boys & Girls Club today, just after church. Will has a Coach Pitch tournament on March 28. Since I now work for Ameriprise, I can now take my vacations where I want to & when I want to, while having more of MY leisure time to focus on my family. We will travel to Key Largo for Spring Break, & I’ll be able to throw w/ Will, Maddie, & Hunter instead of sitting in meetings to listen to solicitations.

We love you and miss you everyday. I appreciate your spirit being their to guide me, and I hope my kids are making your proud.

Happy 85th Birthday, Grandpa!

Kelli and I are in Malta, looking at some of the amazing history from this small island. We just wrapped up our 5th season of American Legion Baseball. We had a good summer, started off strong, though neither team finished to their capabilities.

Will is getting ready for Fall Baseball, & Maddie is getting ready for soccer. Hunter is going to be athletic too, as none of us can slow her down! She just turned 2 in May.

Love you & miss you everyday!

Greg

Your daughter, Linda Marie, left this Earth on February 13, 2019.  I took care of her and brought her home to Arkansas. I uploaded some pictures of her to share. I know she is now at peace with you. Please continue to watch over us. Love you.

Hey Grandpa!
It’s been 6 years today since you left this earth. Maddie & Will just turned 7 & 6, and we are getting full throttle into basketball season. My dad helped coach them in their first game last Saturday, and they tied 12-12. Both kids really hustled! I had the American Legion Baseball Winter Meeting on 01/18, as I was named Zone 4 Commissioner! Our Oilers won the Sportsmanship Award (nice trophy included) from the AAA Arkansas State Baseball Tournament last summer! Very proud of our young men.
The El Dorado Works Tax Board and the El Dorado City Council approved $2.615 million in funding to allow the Complex Board to renovate the 4 existing softball fields, build two new 12U 225’ youth fields (1 baseball & 1 softball), 4 soccer fields, a new concession stand/restrooms/coach’s lounge, batting cages, protective netting, ADA accessibility, and turf for the renovation of the existing fields! This is a very exciting opportunity for El Dorado, Union County, and our entire community!
Thank you for setting and being an example for me to follow. I hope my kids think as fondly of myself and my parents, as I do of you. I am sure Heaven is wonderful. I look forward to seeing you again one day. Until then, please continue watching over us. I love you!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa! You would have been 84 today. Miss you everyday.
Maddie, Will, & Hunter are doing great! We’re currently in Jackson Hole for a work/vacation trip. Will & Maddie finished their 2nd year of T-Ball/Coach Pitch, & they’re loving it. Hunter started walking last week!
Chipper Jones & Jim Thome were just inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with Vladimir Guerrero, Tom Glavine, Jack Morris, Trevor Hoffman, & Alan Trammell. Biggest HOF Class since 1955!
Our JR Drillers American Legion team beat Stuttgart to qualify for the JR State Tournament for their first time ever this year! (Texarkana won State). This is the Drillers 3rd year since restarting the program.
Our SR Oilers American Legion Team beat Texarkana & Arkadelphia to qualify for the SR State Tournament for their 2nd year in a row! (Bryant won State). This is the Oilers 4th year since restarting the program.
I miss you and look forward to seeing you again one day.

Miss you, Grandpa. It’s been 5 years, but we can still feel your presence & see the impact you had on our lives. Will & Maddie have their first basketball game on Saturday, and I have our American Legion Baseball Winter Meeting this weekend in Jacksonville. Hunter is now 8 months old, & she is a spitting image of Maddie!

Jim Thome & Chipper Jones we’re just elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame, along with Vlad Guerrero and Trevor Hoffman. A very good class. Look forward to seeing you again one day, but please continue to watch over our family & guide us with you principles until that time comes. Love you!

Greg

Miss you, Grandpa. Kelli & I will be adding another member to our family this June. Maddie & Will are growing so fast! They had their first season of soccer this past fall. Maddie (4) scored 15 goals and Will (3) scored a goal in 10 games! They start their first season of T-ball this spring. Love you

Veterans Day, 2016 is tomorrow. We always went to the ceremony on at the Courthouse. Someone from the Ladies Aux pinned a poppy on my blouse. We went to lunch afterwards. Love you, miss you.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa! You would have been 82 today. Time flies, no matter how much we miss reminiscing our past experiences. Love you.

Happy Veteran's Day, Grandpa. Thank you for your service. Love you.

Happy 81st birthday, Dad. Miss you. Missing your words of wisdom in only the way you can express. Missing your laugh and the twinkle in those blue eyes. However, Will has inherited your glare and wrinkling of the forehead whenever you heard something idiotic. He also has your appetite. Loves him a good meatloaf and cabbage. Raschel missesyou, too. Still perks his head at the sound of your name and sniffs your picture. We all miss you in Earth, Dad, but we will all gather together again one day. Please watch over us until then, and speak to my heart (or through the wind chimes) those words of encouragement when you feel the need. Love you.

Happy 81st Birthday, Grandpa. I really miss you, but I'm sure you're enjoying watching over us and watching Maddie & Will grow. It must be wonderful to be in the arms of our Lord in Heaven, and Kelli and I hope we are setting a good Christian example by being a positive influence here on Earth. I hope many of the lessons that you passed down to me are setting an the right example for Maddie & Will. Look forward to seeing you again one day.

I miss him. I miss his white hair and aging face. I miss his charming sarcasm- and yes, sarcasm can be charming. At least it was on Dad. I miss his twinkling eyes and red nose. I miss his writing- that perfect, meticulous print that never changed through the years. I miss the way he referred to my mom as the “dumb polak”. Her family was native Poland. I miss the sound of his snoring from the next room, his hollering during a football game, and his "corrective" criticism I played my musical instrument of choice that day. During one practice I even told him to shut up. Did I ever apologize? Dad encouraged the princess in me, and was proud as heck when I could get muddy, golf with him, kept scorebooks for him, spent time with him, anywhere. 
I miss him. Wise, steady, consistent, responsible, considerate, well mannered AND well manicured. Sharp. Witty. Tough. Stubborn. Did I say stubborn? He went to University of Chicago, became an electrician, enlisted in the Army, and became an engineer. He was a great husband, an excellent father and you know what else? A good friend. Dad was my friend. He accepted me, embraced me, loved me and probably worried about me endlessly.
He was my source of security. Stability. My "Go To" guy. My confident. My safety net. My "many things I never told him". He was willing to give me his oxygen. He suffered grief, he suffered disease, and probably a great many things I never knew of. I miss him. I'll see him again in God's glory, but damn I miss him. And I know I said a bad word. But sometimes the experience justifies the word, at least Dad would agree with me, I'm certain of it.
I held Dad’s hand for 30 minutes before he passed. He told me he loved me. He told me he was proud of me.  My final gift to Dad was to point him towards his Father... “Because one day you will die”, I said. For once, he obeyed me. See, he once was a deacon, Sunday school teacher –never miss a Sunday kind of guy- until he moved down South. He was a church regular until one day, mom had her varicose veins operated on. Missed a couple of Sundays. Church called checking, not necessarily on his absence, but the absence of his tithe. FUMC El Dorado, Perrin Jones, made that call. When Bro Doug Wills accepted the call to FBC Norphlet, Dad started attending church again. “Good ole country boy preacher” he would say. So, I now find comfort that dad found Jesus...that dad knows God...I will miss him, but I will see him again.
I miss him.

Happy Veterans' Day, Grandpa.

Happy Veterans' Day, Grandpa.

Happy 80th birthday in Heaven, Dad. Love and miss you much.
Debra

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandpa. Miss you everyday.

Greg

Hi Debra,
This is your cousin Mat in Phoenix. Your father and my uncle was a great man and I am very sorry to hear of his passing. I had not seen him or Tim since my father's funeral in 1994. I hope all is well with you and your family. Please stay in touch.
Mat

Dean... Thank you. My mother is busy helping my dad, as he just had a knee replacement. Tim has moved to Georgia, and we haven't heard much from him since Grandpa's passing. Once I'm able to locate a new phone number or email address, I will let you know.

Debra. Sorry for you loss your dad was my uncle I am Fritz oldest son. I live in Texas. Do you have any information on your uncle Tim.

Debra, You and your family are in our thoughts and our prayers,, Only visited with your Dad two or three times when we bought something from his garage sale,, a wonderful man,,, our love and hugs your way.. Marlin, Becky and Brad Ward..

Debra, So sorry for the loss of your Dad, will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Lifting you up in prayer Debra and family. May God surround you with his love to give you comfort during this difficult time. Love you.

Very sorry for your loss. May the arms of Jesus welcome him home and
send comfort you and your family.

Debra, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Debra, You know I played American Legion baseball for your Dad for 4 years. He was a tremendous influence in my life. My prayers go out to you and your family....