By Andra Bryan Stefanoni
sports@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — Lifelong Pittsburg resident John Lair has volunteered 850 hours in the past year with Special Olympics — that’s the equivalent of 106 eight-hour workdays.
Doing so earned him the title of one of 30 “All Stars Among Us,” awarded by Major League Baseball and People Magazine last week in a national effort to recognize community volunteerism.
On Thursday afternoon, city administrators, city commissioners, former teachers and coaches, friends, family, and Special Olympians gathered at New Hope Services to celebrate.
Mayor Rudy Draper read a proclamation designating the day as “All Star John Lair Day” in Pittsburg, adding that the next four days will be “all about John” as the community prepares to send him off to Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in St. Louis.
There, Lair will meet President Obama, baseball commissioner Bud Selig, several Hall of Fame players, and American and National League players.
According to Lair, 750,000 people were nominated, which was paired down to 400, and then 90. Each of the 30 finalists represent one of the 30 major league baseball teams. Lair, who was nominated by a former athlete he coached at the 2006 Special Olympics National Games, represents the Kansas City Royals.
It’s all a dream come true for Lair, who grew up an athlete with his father as his coach.
“I played on all star teams and was in the J.L. Hutchinson League until I was 17 or 18 years old,” he said. “I was a huge baseball fan and had all that kind of stuff in my room.”
Fifteen years ago, a friend asked Lair to pitch in with a Special Olympics event for which they were short volunteers.
“I agreed, and fell in love with it,” Lair said.
In 2001, he started his own Special Olympics team, which has grown to what authorities say is the best in Kansas. He has coached three World Champion Olympians, and prepping athletes and coordinating events has become his “outside job.”
His paying job for the past 10 years has been as program director for New Hope Services, a subsidiary of Medicalodge, Inc., that is based in Pittsburg and serves clients with special needs.
“Part of what I love about Special Olympics is being part of a pure sport. They don’t care if they win or lose, they just want to participate and meet new friends. It’s not about money or endorsements, it’s smiles, happiness, and pride,” Lair said.
He has developed close friendships with a few of the athletes to the point that he said they are “like family.”
Some of the athletes echoed those sentiments at Thursday’s reception, wearing bright purple Special Olympics T-shirts and cheering when Draper read the proclamation.
“I think he’s the greatest man in the world,” said Georgia Neal, a New Hope client and athlete.
Her son, Larry Neal, also a New Hope client and athlete, said Lair is “a good-hearted man who is number one in my book. He is my best friend.”
New Hope administrator Helen Cherry, vice president of special projects, praised Lair for his dedication. “Our athletes are recognized throughout the state, participating in more than 50 events a year,” she said.
Commissioner Marty Beezley, who watched Lair grow up, publicly thanked him for his service, noting that the hours Lair has put in as a volunteer shows he’s not just giving of his time, but he’s also touched many lives.
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July 9, 2009
Lair named 'All Star Among Us' by MLB
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
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