Mel Sweat Special Event

Mel and Jenny Sweat Going Away Party . June 10, 2024

  As rec D4 photographer, and web mistress, I am constantly learning about all of of the players, their significant others, and their interesting life paths.... Last season I learned from Mel Sweat that he was struggling with his vision. He has lived in The Villages for twenty years, nineteen playing ball! He, and wife Jenny, moved here from Georgia. Both have always been involved with sports. Mel was a school coach. He is such a wonderful and caring soul, some of his players from those times still consider him a father figure always recognizing his birthday, even Father's Day! Each time I encountered Mel on the field he was always a truly kind hearted guy- always asking how I was... 
  Mel has been a great player in rec D4 and was recognized for this as one of the D4 Hall of Fame inductees last December. Since my beginnings in D4 I knew him as a catcher playing 5 seasons for the Pelicans, once for Thunder. His last season, Winter 2024, he did not play although was manager Bernie Cook's assistant manager. He could not see the ball any longer and had a difficult time driving. Jenny and Mel decided it was best to move back to their roots in Georgia to be closer to family for additional help they may need facing their new life challenges...

  I love to highlight players for postitive reasons so I organized a going away event at the field for them.  It is costly to put on these events out of my own pocket. Yes, it is my decision to do this however, I have discovered, the majority of the rec D4 players have huge hearts feeling the same!  While some players mentioned, I don't know him, I was eternally happy when they joined in to help me put this event on together- A shout out goes to LAKERS manager, John Lossani- when a couple of new players said they did not know Mel, John said this; Well, any of us could be faced with this in 10 years. Wouldn't you want Jacque to do this kind of thing for you? .... Yes- a great, postive outlook! Thank you John! 

 Below is a montage of many players joining together with Mel and Jenny... Mel and Jenny enjoyed the reception with both smiles, and yes, some tears.... A custom farewell "card" was signed by the majority of the giving players. All enjoyed the cupcakes with the messages I placed on them but the book I created for Mel was the main feature- it included all years he played- since I began with rec D4, his team pics, action shots, the Hall of Fame event pictures and articles, his stats since his beginnings in D4 and candid shots of Mel at the tournament games each season... 
The comments to me ... I might be moving too! :)) 