GRAND SLAM NEWS

  Colonel Clarence Gerald May, "Jerry" was always a leader- He served 27  years in the USAF. Growing up in Mississippi, after graduating from Mississippi State, he joined the Air Force. While in the AF, he attended American University attaining his Masters. He served in both the Vietnam Campaign and Desert Storm. Jerry retired in 1992 and moved to The Villages in 2002- soon to resume his passion- softball!  It was his military life that Jerry and myself got to become friends- via emailing! I had been doing a website for Tybee Island Georgia American Legion. When Nick and I came to The Villages we attended the annual vets tournament- to write about this event and post pictures on the legion's site, I needed more information on the history- yes, my mission to be transparent & informative:) Arty Hines "introduced" us via email. We shared many things about vets- I had taught a class at a college, the history of the vietnam war-  with that it was a "fun" exchange of thoughts.... The photos you see here are some I have that he shared from the 2006 Vets Tournament. That introduced a history of our D4 league....  He shared interesting little tidbits of the beginning of D4 as well as vets games- pointing out Bud Peffley, he believed, may have taken part before him in the vets games... Jerry ran it in November 2013.  He pointed out: "I was pleased that we were able to include all veterans D4 and below- D5, Knutson and neighborhood teams. We were more about just getting Vets together and having fun playing!"... More on vets games to come...  As for the board back then- the 1st president, Barry Evans, went to D3- guys were begging for board members- familiar scenario like this year:) ... Jerry said he was elected at 1st meeting. Additionally, they did not have enough managers- happens more than once you know:)... so it was mandated if you are on the board, you have to manage! From 2004 to 2007, Jerry was player, manager, board member & pres!   There was no system for electing so that began- if, as he said, we were ever going to get off the board:)) Happily, he shared, he got off the board after the 1st election- Jim Kipp replaced him... both Jerry and Jim are inductees in the HOF.

About Us..Jerry May

D4 Softball President 2004-2007Veterans Tournament 

Jerry, unfortunately, was in ill health. He could not leave his home so why he and I were "penpals".  While it began in 2020, it continued until 2022. Sadly, Jerry went on to the field of dreams February 2, 2022. Not long after his passing, his wife, Pat, reached out to Arty who in turn, reached out to former D4 president, and current VP Joe Grossman. There was a large container of stats, newspaper articles, pictures, even draft papers, rosters of our D4 family players- Joe brought the container to Nick and I- to do something with all of our history.  We shared this with Mike Ratacjzak & wife, Mitzie- they have been in D4 a long time- Nick had seen other divisions had a Hall of Fame- why don't we? Our division began in 2003 so let's honor our guys! Nick and Mike spent over a year going through all the information. Then current president, Dave Bigelow was in on the organization of the Hall of Fame- submitting data he had saved. As you will read on the Hall of Fame page, there were more involved.﻿

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