Gil
started pitching about 1930, but his first venture into organizing was
in 1935 when he helped start an indoor four-team league at the
Springfield YMCA. This league lasted until 1939 with Gil as league
Secretary. From that time on until 1970 he was secretary of some from of
leagues almost continuously, including a Triple A league, Cafe league,
Industrial league, and an Indoor Club League. In 1959 Gil helped to
reorganize the Forest Park Club and was elected Secretary-Treasurer of
the Club, of which he held until 1965 when the name of the club was
changed to the West-Side Club. Then he became Secretary-Treasurer of
that organization until 1970. In 1965 Gil was responsible for obtaining
the use of the park property, which was used to build 20 clay courts
with lights in which the West-Side Club uses. He was one of the hard
workers on the committee which installed the courts. His longest stretch
as league Secretary was from 1959 to 1970 in the Forest Park Club and
West-Side Handicap league.
Gil
also ran an Eastern States Exposition Championship Tournament every fall
for about 10 years. He was West-Side Club Tournament Director in 1969
and 1970, running Mass. Open, Western Mass and State meets.
In
recent years Gil has concentrated on trying to promote Junior Horseshoe
Pitching in the Springfield Area. He was Mass. State Association
President in 1961 and Vice-President for two years. In 1974 he worked
with Park and Recreation organizing a Playground League with 11
playgrounds taking part. He is still active in our sport. |
