A new entrance to the Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado’s baseball and softball fields will be constructed to honor and recognize Cecil Kellum, who founded the El Dorado Boys Club Athletic Program in 1952.
Construction for the entrance is slated to begin in early to mid November. The area is being dedicated as the Cecil Kellum Park and the entrance will include two concrete pillars that will hold a bronze plaque that states Kellum’s dedication. Connecting the pillars at the top will be a sign that will state “Cecil Kellum Park.”
There will also be a black fence to match and connect to Memorial Stadium and an extension to the sidewalk that will reach the entrance. The fence will also stretch to the Boys & Girls Club building from the other side of the entrance of the park, enclosing the area.
A committee formed to implement the improvements to the park has raised $76,000 for the project.
Committee member Elizabeth Eggleston said donations have come from across the nation from former El Dorado High School alumni who attended the Boys & Girls Club while growing up.
“We just all know and respect Cecil Kellum from over the years and he’s been instrumental in the lives of all of us and we just wanted to honor him,” Eggleston said.
Joe Hickman, a 1979 graduate of El Dorado High School, said he grew up going to the El Dorado Boys & Girls Club.
“(Kellum) was just a wonderful person and had an impact on a lot of lives,” Hickman said. “It gave kids a place to go, regardless of who you were, you could just kind of find your place to have a peace of mind and activities to be involved in. It kept you busy and kept you off of the streets.”
Hickman, who is now the real estate manager for Blue Star Land in Dallas, Texas, said Kellum was a mentor who would guide him and others and teach them discipline and skills that they didn’t realize at that age, but would need later on in life.
Rapid Signs out of Ruston, Louisiana is providing the sign that will be placed on top of the pillars. The concrete pillars will be constructed by Diversified Construction & Design.
A surprise celebration was held for Kellum in January, unveiling the plaque and plans for the park to him.
Kellum took the job of program director for the El Dorado Boys Club in 1952, where he served in that capacity for 17 years, followed by three years as executive director.
According to the plaque, Kellum founded the athletic program with a pool table and a wrestling mat, and is credited as being instrumental in building a new facility and one ball field in 1953, as well as establishing the little league baseball, basketball and football programs.
“Cecil stressed sportsmanship as a mentor, fundraiser and umpire,” the plaque states. “His guiding light turned “Boys to Men” and was inducted into the El Dorado Boys Club Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Union County Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. Cecil’s athletes became business leaders and role models for their communities. In honor of his unwavering support for the youth of El Dorado and Union County, the citizens dedicate ‘Cecil Kellum Park.’”
To make a donation, contact David Lee, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado for the Alumni Association. All donations should be taken to 1201 North West Avenue, the location for The Alumni Association. Donations should be noted for the Cecil Kellum Park.
For questions, contact Eggleston at 870-315-2308 or [email protected]. For more information, contact Lee at 870-863-8753 or [email protected].
Additional improvements, including adding bleachers, may be announced as donations continue to grow for the park.
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].