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CLEAR Temp: 82 °F Wind: NNW at 10 mph Friday, July 25, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 23, 2003 Eloy Sutton, 73, of Central Point was recently named Little League national volunteer of the year in recognition of his 35 years of local service. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Sutton’s ‘one in a million’ Central Point volunteer to get national honor for work with Little League By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Eloy Sutton was in Brookings for the Little League Baseball District 8 Tournament two weeks ago when the phone rang in his motel room. A representative from national Little League headquarters in Williamsport, Pa., was on the line, with some startling and yet delightful news: Sutton had just been named the organization’s national volunteer of the year. "There are roughly one million people who volunteer in Little League, and so I think it’s accurate to say that Eloy is a one-in-a-million person," says District 8 administrator Gary Gentry, who nominated Sutton for the award. "Eloy has been helping out in the community for 35 years, selflessly giving his time to a wonderful cause. "This is a well-deserved award." Advertisement Sutton, 73, will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Williamsport in August to be formally honored. He’ll also get a VIP seat at the Little League World Series. He’ll fly back with his son, Patrick, for the festivities. "It took a couple days for this to sink in," says Sutton, a longtime Central Point resident. "When I first heard the news, I couldn’t believe it. There are a lot of people that volunteer for this sort of thing." But not many who have helped out kids and baseball continuously since 1968. Sutton got his start in Little League in Central Point in the spring of that year as an assistant coach to Noel Moore. Two years later, Sutton began to umpire, and a couple of years after that he entered the administrative aspect of the sport. Sutton was a founding member of District 8, along with Raif DeArmond and Bob Martin. Sutton umpired for 29 years and was behind the plate at two regional tournaments. He turned in his mask, shin guards and blue uniform in 2001 but continues to serve as an administrative assistant in District 8. He has touched the lives of hundreds of people affiliated with Little League. At almost every tournament he attends, a former player will approach him and reminisce about his days behind the plate. "It really makes it worth it when people come up and say how much they appreciate you," Sutton says. "A lot of the kids I umpired for in the early days now have their own kids playing." Sutton stays busy not only with Little League but also by working 24-27 hours as a butcher at Jacksonville Market. And he squeezes in an occasional elk hunting trip with his two sons. "I’m too busy to think about getting old," Sutton says. "And being around kids helps to keep me young." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times