|
A graceful smile, a gentle
chuckle, a desire to help others.
That was Leo McManus. The
former youth coach and longtime manager of
the Centralia Merchants and Budweisers is
the 2017 VIP inductee of the Centralia
Sports Hall of Fame. "It's
such an honor to see him to be
inducted," said Leo's son Brian
McManus. "So real proud of
him." Having
coached in some capacity for nearly three
decades - from the sixties through the
eighties, McManus had a profound impact on
the Centralia community. "He
was my coach for years," Brian McManus
said. "But it wasn't just
me. He was such a part of the other
kids' lives. He enjoyed working with
kids and young adults, giving them an
opportunity to play the game they
loved. Even as they grew up he pretty
much always stayed in touch." McManus
coached basketball for kids at Central
School and baseball for young adults.
His passion for America's pastime and the
players he managed was obvious. A
painter by trade, McManus bought a school
bus for his team. He coated it in team
colors with red and black paint, and drove
his squad to away games in the renovated
vehicle - the official ride of the Centralia
Budweisers. Brian
McManus said that type of gesture wasn't
surprising form his father. "It's
probably something I'd expect from
him," McManus said. "He was
just like that. He'd try and do
anything for the team - anything for the
young adults at the time." In
tough times Leo was there. When
funding stopped coming in for the Merchants
McManus almost solely sponsored the team
himself. Out of his pocket came money
for equipment, travel expenses and umpires. "He
didn't do it for personal accolades at
all," Brian McManus said.
"He just wanted to give guys an
opportunity to compete and play on
Sundays. He really enjoyed that." bcorrigan@morningsentinel.com
|
