Hi this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “, brought to you by Auto Logic, the Logical Choice
On Canada Day, the Wiarton Optimist festivities included a fastball doubleheader at Carl Primmer Memorial Diamond.
Along with the doubleheader, they took a moment to salute umpire John Garvey who has retired from officiating fastball.
John Garvey is 92.
Not only did they salute John; they also put him to work,
On Canada Day at Wiarton, John Garvey umpired the 1st inning which marked 70 consecutive years of umpiring in Grey and Bruce.
70 YEARS !!
John has umpired men’s fastball & women’s fastball, Minor softball and slow pitch everywhere there’s a diamond; at Tobermory, Stokes Bay, Lions Head, Cape Croker, Oliphant, Wiarton, Clavering, Hepworth, Shallow Lake, Park Head, Allenford, Sauble Beach, Saugeen, Southampton, Port Elgin, Kincardine, Tara, Desboro, Keady, Chesley, Williamsford, Chatsworth, Markdale, Meaford & in Owen Sound- I’m likely missing a few locations.
From age 22 to Canada Day, John Garvey has uttered the phrase ” Play Ball ” and while his days behind the plate and down the line may be concluded, it’s an amazing accomplishment.
Congratulations to John Garvey on a great career. And well done to those who made the effort to acknowledge such an outstanding local achievement.
I’ll bet if anybody in any community puts some thought into it, there could be a similar ceremony in communities all over Grey Bruce.
I’m Fred Wallace