By Ryan Lewis
Correspondent
KIMBALL, Tenn. — The new baseball and soccer fields at Kimball Park also have a new name.
City officials, family and friends dedicated the fields as the Chester Blevins Sports Complex last week.
Kimball Mayor David Jackson said the park board recommended the new name to honor the longtime resident who grew up on the property where the park was built.
“Chester has meant a lot to this town over the years,” he said. “We wanted to do this to show our appreciation. He loves Kimball, and he’s been here all his life.”
Blevins has served as a Kimball alderman, on the park board and has coached baseball teams in the 1950s and ’60s, Jackson said.
Blevins was unable to attend the event because of health problems, but his daughter, Shereen Stewart, who helped unveil the dedication plaque, said it couldn’t have happened to a better person.
“We took a photo album to him afterward, and he was just tickled to death,” she said. “He was very excited when he found out. He couldn’t be more proud.”
Stewart said the park was built on Blevins’ old family farm, and he was proud that it had become a place where people could relax and enjoy themselves as well as compete athletically.
“There were a lot of friends and family [at the park] to celebrate, but we wished he could’ve been there, too,” she said. “Daddy loves sports. When he wasn’t playing, he was coaching, and I know he’s very pleased that the town did this.”
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.