Exactly one year after the announcement of the new entrance to the Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado’s baseball and softball fields, a dedication ceremony will take place for Cecil Kellum, who founded the athletic program in 1952.
Phase I for Cecil Kellum Park was completed a couple of weeks ago and the dedication ceremony for the park will take place Jan. 12. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado.
The entrance to the fields include two concrete pillars, which are connected by a sign that states “Cecil Kellum Park.” Inside one of the pillars is a bronze plaque that states Kellum’s dedication.
A committee was formed to implement the improvements to the park, which has raised $76,000.
The working committee that implemented the improvements consist of Phil Nelson, Elizabeth Eggleston, Parks Hammond, Robert Edmonds, director of public works, and George Fennell.
Donations for the park came from former El Dorado High School alumni who attended the Boys & Girls Club while growing up.
According to a press release, improvements also constructed during phase one included a new backstop at B League field, a new fence from the front of the Municipal Auditorium up Eighth Street to the edge of the B League field, a new fence from the north end of the stadium parking lot to the Boys & Girls Club and a 6-foot concrete pad was installed. With the fencing, there is now only one way in and out of the fields.
The plaque states that Kellum founded the El Dorado Boys & Girls Club Athletic Program in 1952 with a pool and a wrestling mat.
Fennell has been serving on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club and the Boys Club Alumni Association for 33 years.
“Cecil Kellum was a mentor for everyone that went down there,” Fennell said. “Back in the 50s when I first started going, the club was new and most of our fathers were WW2 veterans who were working. I know my dad worked six days a week and we would go to the Boys Club.”
Fennell said Kellum helped them get jobs and different things to keep them out of trouble. Fennell added that the Boys Club was the only place for them to go at that time.
“All I can say is he was the right man at the right time for us guys back in the 50s and early 60s,” he said.
The press release stated that out of the $76,000 raised, $32,000 was used for the first phase of the park. The rest of the money will be used for Phase II.
According to the release, Phase II will include:
• Installing plastic atop of the chain link fence to keep kids from getting hurt.
• Redo all of the gates.
• Redo the dugout gates.
• Pour concrete pad around the fence for the fields.
• Four seat bleachers installed.
• Upgrade the batting cage at B League field.
• Cover the batting cage with lights to see at night while practicing.
• Install handrails at middle, sides and back of the bleachers for B League stands.
• Landscape B League field.
• Fencing along North West Avenue.
Fennell said at the ceremony on Jan. 12, they will dedicate the completion of Phase I and explain Phase II. Donors who attended the club while growing up will also have a chance to speak at the event.
Kellum will be the guest of honor at the ceremony.
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or krigdon@ eldoradonews.com.