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Jimmie
Branon always wanted to give back to the
community that shaped him.
With
a doubt, he has!
The
2016 Centralia Hall of Fame inductee's mad
his mark by allocating his time and effort
to helping the youth of this town in a
myriad of ways. The
longtime former umpire and basketball
official has organized numerous softball and
baseball tournaments with proceeds going to
charities and youth teams. He also
hosts the Texas Fold 'Em Club which has been
in existence for 11 years and has raised
nearly $60,000 for various youth endeavors. "It's
a tremendous honor being inducted into the
hall but this isn't about me," Branon
said. "It's about the community,
the people in the community. I enjoyed
officiating and umpiring, but raising money
for youth programs in Centralia, that's the
highlight of my life." Branon
said the community leaders who came before
him provided the inspiration to do great
things. He still carries fond memories
from the influential personalities of Howard
Cooksey and Fred Pearson. Cooksey
served as longtime director of the Centralia
Community Center where he supervised
activities for better than four
decades. Pearson, a former standout
athlete at Centralia Township High School
worked for 40 years with the city's
recreation department. "They
went above and beyond the call of duty of
just picking up a paycheck," Branon
said. "These guys were really
sincere about keeping the youth in programs
when I was young. Fred was like a
second dad to me. He'd pick me up and
take me all over Southern Illinois to play
baseball. He made things possible for
me in the world of sports." Branon
cited Harold Monken and Peno Castellari as
two other significant life mentors. "Watching
these four people operate through the years
I knew I wanted to be similar to them,"
Branon said. "It motivated me
tremendously because they had a great impact
on the youth of this town, and I wanted to
be a part of that as I got older and that's
what I've been doing." Many
around town see Branon in the same light as
he does his mentors. IBCA
Hall of Fame official Ray Albert credits
Branon for igniting his officiating passion
and career. "Jimmie
was one of the main reasons that I started
officiating," Albert said.
"He let me work games for his baseball
tournaments, and he had plenty of those when
I was 16. Once I was old enough to get
my license through the IHSA he helped me
with the basketball and baseball tests and I
appreciate him for that." Albert
said that Branon created a local legacy that
won't be forgotten. "He
certainly deserves this honor for all of the
things he's done for the young people in
Centralia and for all he's done for
officiating over the years. I am proud
to know him and I can't thank him enough for
all that he's done for me." bcorrigan@morningsentinel.com
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