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Recent AFL Obituaries
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Adrian Zabala Sr.
Florida Times-Union on 1/6/2002. 1/4/02 11:21:54 AM Pacific Standard Time Funeral services for Adrian Zabala, Sr., 85, who died Friday, January 4, 2002, will be held Monday at 2 p.m. from the graveside in Evergreen Cemetery (Gate #2) with Father Ron Camarda officiating. Mr. Zabala was a native of San Antonio de Los Banos, Cuba and was a longtime resident of Jacksonville, FL. He played professional baseball in the early 1940s in Jacksonville for the Tars, later to pitch for the New York Giants. In 1956 he returned to Jacksonville to play and coach the Jacksonville Braves. He had retired in 1981, after 20 years with St. Regis Paper Mill. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Mary Anderson Zabala; a daughter, Rosemary Zabala; a son, Adrian Zabala, Jr. (Joy); 4 grandchildren, Adriana Zabala, Gaye Linford, Robby Henson and Jami Pena. |
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Bo Belinsky
c The Associated Press LAS VEGAS (Nov. 24) — Former major league pitcher Bo Belinsky, known as much for his colorful personality as his baseball career, has died of an apparent heart attack at his home in Las Vegas. He died Friday at 64. The left-hander pitched a nine-strikeout, four-walk no-hitter as a rookie for the Los Angeles Angels against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium in 1962, the first major league no-hitter on the West Coast. But Belinsky gained as much notoriety for dating movie stars such as Mamie Van Doren, Ann-Margret, Tina Louise, Juliet Prowse and Connie Stevens. Selected out of the Baltimore Orioles’ system by the Angels in 1961 expansion draft, Belinsky won his first three decisions. On May 5, 1962, the 25-year-old Belinsky had a live, riding fastball, a hard curve and baffling screwball, according to Bob « Buck » Rodgers, who caught the no-hitter. Rodgers, who later managed the Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and Angels, said Belinsky had overpowering stuff on the night of the no-hitter. « He could challenge anybody with that fastball, » Rodgers, who managed the Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and Angels. « He got the screwball over early, but the fastball set up everything. « Even on the last out, it was a 3-1 fastball to Dave Nicholson and Bo threw him a fastball right down Broadway. He fouled out to third. When Bo was on, he had that electric kind of stuff. » Shortly after the no-hitter, Belinsky became part of the Hollywood scene, developing a reputation as a pool-hustling, heavy-drinking playboy. Belinsky had a much-publicized romance with Van Doren. « We’ve had a love affair that’s continued a long time, » Van Doren told The Associated Press on Saturday. « I lost someone that was a very special part of my life. This is very sad for me. « Our life was a circus. We were engaged on April Fools Day and broke the engagement on Halloween. It just broke my heart, and his, too. It was a wild ride, but a lot of fun. » Belinsky finished 10-11 his rookie season, his finest in the majors. Belinsky was 28-51 with 476 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.10 in an eight-year career that included stints with the Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. « You know, I’ve probably gotten more mileage winning 28 games in the majors than most guys who’ve won 200, » Belinsky told the Las Vegas Review-Journal last summer before the minor league Las Vegas 51s hosted « Bo Belinsky Night. » After retiring from baseball in 1970, Belinsky married and divorced Playboy Playmate centerfold Jo Collins. He also married and divorced paper heiress Janie Weyerhaeuser, with whom he had twin daughters. Belinsky, who had bladder cancer, worked in customer relations for the Findlay Automotive Group for nearly 10 years. He was sober for the final 25 years of his life, was a born-again Christian and was active in his church, the Trinity Life Center. Belinsky loved to rhapsodize about the old times, but developed a deep religious belief, which former Angels teammate Dean Chance said allowed him to accept his fate. « Bo was a one-of-a-kind guy and there won’t be another one like him, » Chance, a Cy Young winner and close friend of Belinsky told the Review-Journal. « He was full of cancer, his heart was bad and his hip was hurting him terribly at the end. « He had slipped and fallen, and it was really tough on him. But he had made his peace with the Lord and he is probably better off today than he was last week. He’s not suffering terribly any more. » Belinsky was born in New York in 1936 and began hanging out in New Jersey pool halls at the age of 14. Belinsky was estranged from his daughters for more than 20 years. Funeral arrangements are pending, according to Davis Funeral Home in Las Vegas. |
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Dick Meckley
Mr. Richard G. Meckley was born April 27, 1919 in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He was raised with an older brother and sister [Claude and Anna Mae]..He attended Hershey High School at nearby Hershey, Pa.. Mr. Meckley answered the call and went into the army during World War II serving in the Philippines. He also served in the Korean War. He met Eunice White, a 2nd Lieutenant Army Nurse, at Camp Stewart, Ga. After a brief time of service at Ft. Benning, Ga. , they made their home in Dothan, Alabama in 1949.. He worked at Fort Rucker as a civilian comptroller for five years.. He then started his sports journey working with Mr. Jess Swicegood at WDIG radio, hosting Dothan’s first call in radio show in the mid 50’s. Mr. Meckley was the voice of the Dothan Cardinals Minor League Baseball team at Wiregrass Stadium, where son Shannon served as the bat boy. In the late 50’s he refereed high school football and basketball throughout the Wiregrass area. In the 60’s his unique voice could be heard over the P.A. system calling play by play for local sporting events at Rip Hewes Stadium.. In addition, he was the voice of Dothan High football and basketball over the radio, and he loved playing the song « Sweet Georgia Brown » over the speakers as the Dothan High basketball team entered the court..He also hosted a baseball show on Channel 4 T.V. He painted a beautiful picture as he called Dixie Youth Baseball on the radio. « Hi everybody, this is Dick Meckley high above the 18th green bringing you The Future Masters Golf Tournament. » He was only on a 6 foot high scaffolding, but you felt so close on radio to a tournament he loved.. In the 60’s he also introduced the little mascot footballs and basketballs thrown out at games. In 1970 he joined the PGA TOUR working for Golf Radio Network and was offered a job by WABC TV NEW YORK to work on tour.. In Sept of 1971 he joined AA and remained sober for 29 years [ a great accomplishment]. Mr. Meckley moved to Jacksonville, Florida in the early 70’s where he met his 2nd wife, Ginny. He served as National Account Mgr. for AAA Cooper Transportation from 1976 to 1983.. In 1980 he became 1 of 30 founding members of the TPC at SAWGRASS..In 1983 upon the recommendation of close friend Pete Davison , Mr. Meckley was hired by Roger Cleveland as the 1st Tour Rep for Cleveland Golf on the PGA TOUR.. He made the wedge No 1 on tour, and the players nicknamed him ‘ Lo Tec Meck ‘ for his love of persimmon woods.. He served Cleveland until 1993 and then worked as Tour Rep for Hogan and Wood Bros. Mr. Meckley had many friends on the PGA TOUR and held a special affection for the PGA TOUR Bible Study.. He retired from the PGA TOUR in 1996. |
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Marion « Bill » Adair
June 18, 2002 at 4:20:18 PDT Obituaries in the News ASSOCIATED PRESS BAY MINETTE, Ala.- Bill Adair, who managed the Chicago White Sox for 10 games in 1970 and was Hank Aaron’s first minor league manager, died Monday. He was 89. Adair was the third base coach for the White Sox in 1970 when he filled in as manager for 10 games between Don Gutteridge and Chuck Tanner. His record was 4-6. In 1952, Adair played second base and served as manager of the Milwaukee Braves’ farm team in Eau Claire, Wis. One of his players was Aaron. « I learned an awful lot from him as a young kid, » Aaron said Monday night. « He gave me the foundation I needed to start out. » That summer, despite starting late in the season and playing only 87 games, Aaron batted .336 with nine home runs and was selected the league’s MVP. Aaron, who went on to become baseball’s career home run leader, said Adair was well-respected in the Braves organization and supported integration in its early days in baseball. Adair continued to coach for the Braves in Milwaukee and shortly after they moved to Atlanta. Adair also served as manager of the Panama City (Fla.) Fliers in the defunct Alabama-Florida League and won the pennant in 1955. |
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Bill Pouncy
November 15th, 2002: Bill Pouncy passed away today in Birmingham, From Bill’s neice, Rhonda Dockery, Tuscaloosa, |
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Haywood Sullivan
(although Sullivan has no direct link to the AFL, he played semi-pro ball in Graceville) by Phil Paramore, Dothan Eagle: 2/15/03 If ever a citizen of 100-year-old Houston County lived out the American Dream, it was likely Haywood Sullivan. The Dothan Native died Wednesday in Fort Myers, Florida, after suffering a stroke. He was 72. Sullivan rose from a modest background to become the highest-ranking baseball official to ever call the Wiregrass home. By the time a nearly 40-year relationship with his beloved Boston Red Sox came to an end a decade ago, he had risen from a utility player to general manager and eventually to co-ownership, the only person to ever fill all three roles in franchise history. His athletic career began at Dothan High, where he was one of the mainstays on the 1949 undefeated football squad, one that featured five future major-college signees. A teammate, Billy Morris, remembered Sullivan’s emergence. « Sully hit a growth spurt right before his senior year, » Morris said. « He came back to school that fall, and he was the star of the team. He was a great athlete and a great person. » After earning the equivalent of All-SEC honors in both football and baseball at the University of Florida, Sullivan eventually signed what was considered a bonus-baby contract with the Red Sox. « We’d hitch-hiked home from Florida for Christmas, » Morris recalled. « There had been all sorts of scouts in our dorm room, trying to get him to sign, and the Red Sox were finally successful. I remember the headline in the newspaper about him getting $60,000, which was big money at the time. » Sullivan used part of that signing incentive to build his parents a home, one his father dwelled in until his own recent death. Meanwhile, though his stint as a player was considered mediocre-he hit .226 with 13 homers over a 312 game career-Sullivan won the heart of Bosox owner Tom Yawkey. When Sullivan’s tenure as the Kansas City Athletics manager ended in 1965, it was Yawkey who welcomed him back into Red Sox fold. Ultimately, Sullivan became the architect behind three American League Championships, and when Yawkey died, bought part of the team from the owner’s widow, Jean. A turbulent period followed when an additional investor purchased part of the club, and Sullivan sold his share in 1993-for a cool $12 million. His contributions to the Red Sox are considered invaluable. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig recognized Sullivan in a statement released Thursday. « He was one of the great baseball executives of our generation, » the statement read. « Haywood was a very decent and good person, both professionally and personally. He was a credit to the game and to the Red Sox franchise. » Despite such accolades, one of his former coaches said Sullivan never changed. Warren Jones delivered the first check Sullivan earned as a ballplayer, $25 for his duties as catcher on a Florida panhandle semi-pro team. « He was probably one of the best-known sports figures ever from around here, » Jones said. « But he never forgot where he came from. » I got a personal taste of his loyalty back in 1989 on a first-ever trip to Beantown. I had phoned him about tickets to a Red Sox game only to have him refer me to the ticket office. I made the credit-card purchase, expecting to be peering around Pesky’s Pole in the right-field corner, only to find myself 19 rows behind the heart of home plate. In the words of the guy sitting next to me, « You don’t buy these seats from the ticket office. » Sullivan is survived by sons Marc and Kyle, daughter Sharon and wife Patricia. But in the minds and memories of Wiregrass Sports historians, he will live on. His sports legacy is too profound to die. |