DEDICATION

The city of Red Oak paid tribute to a longtime community leader this past weekend. 

On Saturday afternoon, the ball field near Chautauqua Park was dedicated as the Steve Roberts Memorial Field, in honor of longtime Red Oak Police Chief Steve Roberts. 

Red Oak Mayor Bill Billings said he made the request to the park board to rename the field. He said the ball field was dedicated to Roberts for a number of reasons. “One was for his dedication to the community as chief of police, and the other was his lifelong dedication to the game of baseball,” Billings said. 

Over the years, Billings said, Roberts donated a lot of time to the enrichment of baseball programs in the community. 

“He was highly involved in the Red Oak Red Sox program, and he coached youth league and high school baseball. We kind of felt that a dedication to the field would be appropriate to recognize his years of community service, as well as his support for youth sports, particularly the game of baseball. “

Billings added it was a positive feeling to be able to dedicate a landmark in the community in Roberts’ name. 

“It’s not only a landmark of physical presence and prominence, but one that has a lot of meaning to the youth sports program now. The Jordan Vannausdle Athtletic Association uses that field primarily for football and baseball,” commented Billings.