Honoring coach Jack Devereaux
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Many of Jack's former players stand at the monument created in his memory.

Meeks Park was the site of a special tribute this past Sunday, as family and friends turned out to witness the unveiling of a memorial to honor the late Coach Jack Devereaux, who did much for girls softball in Union County.

Jack's brother, Minister Jan Devereaux, gave the opening prayer and later spoke about the kind of man that Jack was. Jan Devereaux remarked that there are two different kinds of people in the world, those who create stumbling blocks, and those who build stepping stones. Jack, he said, was a man who always built stepping stones for other people.

A pair of plaques sit opposite one another on the memorial, along with benches and a flag pole.

Jeanne Tallent thanked everyone for coming and spoke to the crowd about what she remembered most about Jack. Boy Scout troop number 101, led by Keith Warren, raised the flag at the beginning of the service.

Ann Krier, a student at Union County Middle School, sang the National Anthem.

Each of the two plaques on the memorial honor Jack in different ways. One plaque displays a portrait of Jack surrounded by scenes from the girls he coached, while another presents "The Coach," a poem about Jack written by Rachel Brackett.
                      The   Coach
                    In Memory of Jack Devereaux
                                    1945-2001
There's a sound that's missing from this place
It's not here to make the girls around the bases race.
It was such a happy sound; no other like it can be
found.
It rang out loud and clear and could be heard both far
and near.
It could be encouraging a   player to do her best
Or putting a player's endurance to the test.
The sound is the voice of a certain man
Who all of his players thought was really grand.
Jack Devereaux is his name.
Coaching girls softball to him was more than just a
game.
On his team, all the players were treated just the same.
He didn't take it easy on his team or make their practices
        light.
He might yell, "Get it right or we'll be out here all
night!"
To him, uniforms getting dirty was a pretty sight.
I've heard him shout, "Get that glove down!"
There was not another coach like him in this town.
I can still hear Jack say:
"You don't have to kill it, just hit the ball and put it
into play."
Or "Look out, Lori, this one's coming your way!"
Jack not only had the respect of his team,
The parents and other coaches held him in high
esteem.
The coach didn't possess much in the way of earthly
gold
But he did have a good name, which is Jack
Devereaux.