An alumnus takes batting practice before the inaugural Bobby Dan Speights Alumni Baseball Game last week in Mineola.

Twenty-three Mineola High School ballplayers from class of 1979 through class of 2017 participated in the inaugural Bobby Dan Speights Alumni Baseball Game on Saturday, Feb. 16. The event aimed to honor and build on the legacy of service left to the community by the late Bobby Dan Speights.

Mineola High School Athletic Director Luke Blackwell thanked the Speights family for the use of their family name and offered comments about his life. “Bobby Dan Speights was a man of love and caring, his heart was pure and you knew that because it reflected in his actions. We are proud to have this opportunity to honor him and become part of this tradition,” said Blackwell.

Speights passed away Nov 12, 2018, at the age of 77 and with a lifetime of service to the Mineola community and a deep passion for baseball.

Before thanking the many individuals who came together to take the idea of this game and make it a reality, Blackwell remarked, “He always wanted to do the work behind the scenes. He had a true selfless heart and we love him and remember him for those things.”

Blackwell noted that many of the alumni on the field benefitted directly from Speights’ community service. He concluded by thanking the family once again, noting that the game hopefully will become an annual event.

Despite cool and overcast conditions, the athletes embarked on a homerun derby before enjoying the game.