MRmom, great post, in my heart and mind this place will always remain "the house that Bob built". I would love to hear more suggestions for how we might thank and honor Bob for the amazing contribution and sacrifices he has made over the past 7 years!
Posts: 3625 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: January 04, 2003
I don't mean to answer my own question, but I will jump in with one suggestion:
It seems fitting to award an annual Bob Howdeshell Scholarship to a college-bound HS senior who plans to play baseball in college. We could work on the criteria and nominations during the coming year, and perhaps award the first scholarship around April of 2006. I would be delighted to make the first contribution to the scholarship fund!
Posts: 3625 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: January 04, 2003
Wonderful idea! Whatever help would be needed for this I would gladly volunteer - I can't think of a more appropriate way to honor Bob than with a baseball scholarship. Keep us posted!
I also agree. Like many others here, I would be happy to contribute to such a great idea. Let us know when it comes together and I suspect most folks on this site will also be contributors.
For all the benefits we have rec'd from this site...giving a little back should be easy.
Posts: 277 | Location: Maryland | Registered: January 13, 2004
The Bob Howdeshell Scholarship fund is a great idea. Be sure to count me in. I think the greatest tribute and the greatest honor we could bestow on Bob Howdeshell would be to continue the tradition that made the hsbbw what it is today. I understand that changes will be necessary but we should always respect the foundation on which “The house that Bob built” stands on. Read the link “About Us” and you start to understand the man and his concept of the HSBBW.link Of course the hsbbw was Bob and Bob was the hsbbw but we knew (and know) him as another parent seeking information for his sons, not the designer of a world famous website. Bob just seemed to have gotten most of his questions answered before we arrived. He will be the first to tell you this was never about glory for himself but always about every player and every parent looking for answers. The description and purpose of the hsbbw as described by Bob in his “About Us” link should always be held as a template whenever “we” decide to make changes. Fungo
Posts: 4797 | Location: Spring Creek (Jackson),Tennessee | Registered: December 26, 2002
Funny story but a true example of the "fame" of this site-- I was at a HS Playoff game yesterday wearing one of the original white HSBASEBALL WEB shirts with my College Select shorts-- I was amazed how many people from both teams came up to introduce themselves
Made feel kind of warm and fuzzy about what Bob has created!!!
TRhit
Posts: 19171 | Location: Manchester, CT USA | Registered: December 26, 2002
Count me in on the scholarship thing. Maybe one of our lawyer posters can contribute some information as to how this should be done, given the fact that a student-athlete is the recipient.
Posts: 563 | Location: USA | Registered: March 05, 2004
Fungo, thanks for highlighting that link. Over the past week I have re-read sections of the site, checking out areas that Bob mentioned might need updating, etc. As I reflected again on the work that Bob has done through the years, it literally took my breath away. What an unselfish task, what a gift to players and parents. I know Bob has never wanted glory or rewards, but I think this is one honor he might not object to, just another way of helping players as he has always done.
We will definitely have to check NCAA regulations to make sure we are in compliance, as well as establish criteria and a nomination process. Details to come ...
Posts: 3625 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: January 04, 2003
Julie, I am in. Where do we send the check? Let us know when you get the rules/regulations and fund set up. This is a great idea. I will help anyway I can. Susan
Posts: 165 | Location: Southern California | Registered: April 26, 2003
Thanks everyone for your support of this idea for a scholarship to honor Bob. We probably will not start accepting contributions toward the scholarship fund until we do a preliminary writeup of the criteria and selection process. Also I want to check on NCAA regulations.
In the meanwhile, please feel free to nominate yourself to be on the selection committee. I'm guessing that a few of the hsbaseballweb "Old-Timers" will help appoint a committee made up of a cross-section of our members ... at least one parent of a player at each level (pre-high school, high school, college, pro), a coach or two, a couple of players, and maybe a scout.
For the scholarship criteria, I am thinking in terms of some of the qualities we admire in the scholarship's namesake, Bob Howdeshell. Perhaps #1 and #2 would be love of the game and good citizenship/community service, etc. Of course baseball skills and academic accomplishments should be considered, but since there are already many scholarship opportunities for those areas, I personally think they could rank lower on our list of criteria. But the committee can reach a concensus on the criteria a bit later.
NEXT STEP: Please feel free to nominate yourself or someone else to serve on the committee, either by posting here, or e-mailing me at jas@pclink.com. Thanks!
MN-Mom Julie
Posts: 3625 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: January 04, 2003
He will be the first to tell you this was never about glory for himself but always about every player and every parent looking for answers.
