Vesely family donates to dugouts in memory of family

On Friday, June 19 a dedication is planned for the new dugouts at the North Tama Complex baseball field.

The Vesely family donated the funds for the new dugouts in memory of Kent Vesely and his parents Marlys and Johnny Vesely, life long North Tama fans.

Kent Vesely was a North Tama student that passed away in August 1965 between his freshman and sophomore year. Vesely was ill and stayed home from lending a local farmer a hand and died that evening from his illness. Kent was a friend to everyone. Veselys’ owned the Drive-in and in those days the cars parked outside and there were carhops. Kent would walk up and down the rows of cars visiting with everyone.

The coaches at North Tama thought so much of him that they were the ones that started the Kent Vesely award. It is still awarded to an outstanding freshman/sophomore athlete each year.

It was with memorial money from Kent’s death that Marlys and Johnny originally funded the home team dugout at the baseball field.

The Veselys loved to go to games. They attended football, basketball, baseball and music events. At football games they had “their spot,” of course they were always early, but if someone got their first they would save their space for them.

Baseball was a favorite for them. They would sit right behind the fence near the home dugout. Johnny’s eyesight was not the best, but he would cheer and yell at the umpires. One of his phrases was “get the dirt out of your glove, catcher,” when the ump would call a strike and he didn’t agree.

Even after all of their grandkids graduated they continued to attend games. They were thrilled when a player would send them a graduation announcement.

The Veselys’ enjoyed people and being active in their community. They owned Vesely’s Drive-in for many years.

After the Veselys’ passed away in 2004 their family found out that the field again needed new dugouts. So they donated the funds and along with help from local people who volunteered the labor got the new dugouts built.

Please join the family of the Vesely’s and the North Tama team in dedicating the new dugouts on Friday, June 19, just prior to the North Tama vs. Don Bosco varsity game at 7:00 p.m.