HRYS Jeff Dalling Scholarship

HRYS Remembers Jeff Dalling

On Saturday November 8th 2008 the Lord called
Jeff Dalling home. Jeff was a long time coach and
board member of the HRYS family. Many of us
will remember Jeff as a co-worker, a family man
and a man of faith. I will always remember Jeff as
a special gift given to our softball league by God.
I refer to Jeff as a gift because of when you think
of the definition of a gift we can really see how Jeff
was a special part of our world.

The common definitions of a gift are:
1. Something that is given to somebody, usually in order to provide pleasure or to show gratitude and,
2. A special talent or a natural ability that somebody appears to have been born with, especially an artistic ability or social skill.

Jeff gave freely his time his skills, knowledge and his talent in many aspect of his life. People will attest to this in his work and his faith. I can only attest to those gifts Jeff gave to our players and to our softball league. Jeff was an excellent coach and active board member. He took on the difficult and challenging task needed to ensure that our players and league had fields to play on and participated in all the time consuming tasks needed to ensure that our league was properly administered each season.

In addition Jeff took the extra time to coach his daughter and other young girls in our league for 5 years in the sport of softball. Parents and players can attest to the love and passion that Jeff had for teaching and coaching players in how to become better players and about being a successful person. Jeff knew that the time he spent with these players gave these girls the ability to learn team work while gaining a sense of pride and accomplishment as their softball skills developed. Jeff was a very good coach. I can remember watching him coach first base in several games and providing encouragement to his players. Jeff was quick to share in the joy of a player’s accomplishment as she made a base hit or a great defensive play. Jeff was also quick to share with his players a “good try “when things did not go as planned.

Jeff taught our girls the joy of game called softball and just as importantly provided them with a positive way to learn about life lessons and how to handle victory and defeat. Jeff taught the girls both about winning and losing in sports and how it prepares them for what will happen in their future years of life beyond the sport's arena.

In the end God determines when we will be called home to his kingdom. I am sure that Jeff will be a great addition to the souls in heaven looking down upon his family and his extended family that he had with the players and our league. As a person the greatest gift that we can give is the time and talent that we share with others. In this regards Jeff was a huge gift to our league and our community at large.

I will miss Jeff. I know that the league that he supported so well will also miss him. I am sure that Jeff would want us to take his passing as with all things that he did as a life lesson for us to share with our players and our families. Let us celebrate and enjoy the gifts that Jeff gave us and build upon the work he did as a key member of our league.

Our thoughts, prayers and wishes go out to his wife Wanda, Daughter Elizabeth (Izzy) and son Ben as they morn the loss of
this Husband, Father, Coach and person.

Bob Thomas
HRYS Commissioner
November 2009