After the conclusion of the 2011 Softball season I had a lengthy conversation with Lady Panthers Head Coach Alan Knight about what goals remained after 30 years of coaching at the school.
At that time the Softball field at PCHS did not have a permanent fence. The home games were still be played with a temporary fence, similar to one you might see at a Tee-Ball game. One has to remember that all the school had back in 1981 was a backstop and a home plate.
Over the years the program was able to add dugouts and a press box but the snag with the fence was the area behind was the Junior Varsity Football practice field.
In a lifetime of marketing and promotional tasks, our youngest daughter and I took on the largest challenge to date. Rebecca Carter has since added McDowell to her last name but in a 15 year stretch of accomplishments together, the Panther Palooza sits at the top of any list. The followup ceremony where we were officially added Alan F Knight Field at the Lady Panthers Softball Complex to the park was simply magical.
I believe that it was legendary golfer Lee Trevino that was asked about how much pressure he felt when he stood over a putt that was worth $100,000 difference in prize money ?
Trevino explained that the real pressure comes from standing over a putt that decides a $50 bet and you only have $25 in your pocket.
The Got Fence campaign was not the biggest project that we have spearheaded over the years, but as Trevino explained so well, it came at a time where there was less than no cash to spear.
The trade off would be a guarantee for a new fence around the field if we could put Coaches name on the front and dedicate the outfield fence to my parents. Once the agreement was approved, I contacted a contractor to find out was it would cost to simply have someone come out and do it. The answer was $28,000.00 back then.
We were highly motivated to create a plan that would cover the costs being that we had nowhere near that amount of money at the time. The Panther Palooza is a HUGE part of this story on so many levels and recapping it will bring joy to my heart ❤.
The fifteen years spent with Rebecca, working on one project after another, was the most enjoyable time of my life, by a wide margin. We both knew that at some point the run would end as our now mid thirties Kiddo would marry and raise a family 👪 of her own.
The breakdown to the Panther Palooza is relevant to everything that happened afterwards in both Page County and Carroll County as well out on Orcas Island 🏝. Looking forward to laying out the blue print !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 