DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Induction Year: 2002

Late in the 1940's Arthur, Buck Cobaugh and others built the baseball field west of New Carlisle on Jefferson Street. It was a big deal for the community since it had lights for night and even a concession stand with running water. Night games and great teams drew big crowds from the community. This same field was later used by Tecumseh's Baseball Team for practice and their games.

During the 1950's he started serving on the New Carlisle Parks and Recreation Board and Tecumseh's Athletic Boosters. Art and others built the first running track around the football field. He borrowed heavy equipment from the village and hauled in the cinders and rolled them down with their street paving roller.

Art was instrumental in developing the tennis program and building the tennis courts. He spent many hours traveling to other cities to get ideas, taking pictures and measurements. He personally designed and built the concession stand, restrooms, and practice backboards for the courts, and used contacts at DP&L to have coin operated lights. With the help of Doug Chaffins, Russ Boone, Bill Scarff and many others, a great tennis program was developed and was the beginning of the tennis team.

In the 1960's he designed and built a combination court to the south of the existing tennis courts. I t was lined with colors for tennis and basketball, with removable frames around the sides for a winter ice-skating rink. He found scrap steel, welded the frames for the backboards, poured the footers, and had the coin operated lights again. Tecumseh's basketball program benefited as many could play night or day.

Arthur served on the Tecumseh Boosters and Hall of Fame Committee for decades. He made many friends while serving the community; Sertoma Club, Park & Recreation Board, all the while consistently attending Tecumseh's games. For that is his wealth-his priorities were to his trade, sports for youth, family and church. Many generations have benefited from his efforts, years of hard work and enjoyment.

We were with him on his travels, helped him measure and build and know our business helped pay for a lot of labor and materials. He used his men and hired our classmates for a lot ofhis projects. Thanks for recognizing our Dad.