Asides

The idea of a monument dedicated to the Kids and Kubs Softball Club originated with player-member Richard Morris. He had seen such a object elsewhere and became enthused with having some place for future members to have as their own for picture taking and reminiscing, and to memorialize all those who have been members before, and to inspire those who will be members later.

The committee to investigate the purchase and placing of a monument under the leadership of Dick Morris included the then-current officers, Winchell Smith, Menno DiLiberto, Bob Warsaw and Fred Cardella. The committee considered several types of monuments and consulted four different providers before deciding on a polished granite bench designed and produced by Sumner Marble & Granite Works of St. Petersburg. The front and back seat edges carry the club logo and the words “Kids and Kubs”. The upright support indicates the club was formed in 1930.

The Recreation Department of the City of St. Petersburg under Phil Whitehead approved the placing of the monument near the walk adjoining the ball field and poured a concrete slab as a base for the monument. The contractor placed the monument on the slab on October 18, 2005. It is fastened to the slab by bolts embedded in the concrete and epoxied to the pediment of the monument.

The upright portion supporting the seat contains four drilled cores 5 inches in diameter and 9 inches deep. They contain sealed containers of documents, pictures and electronic data in the form of a time-capsule. The monument is placed during the 75th year of the club’s existence and it is expected that the capsule will be opened at a ceremony in the year 2030 during the 100th anniversary of the club. See Album 1 for a picture of the time-capsules being sealed into the monument.

The cost of the monument was $1800. An original donation in support of the idea was made by Mr. Galbraith, a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Morris. The balance was oversubscribed by members of the club, leaving about $650 in a fund to maintain and care for the monument.

The containers used for the time-capsule are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe with plastic end caps. The contents are wrapped in aluminum foil in an attempt to preserve the documents against the ravages of time and moisture. After capping the cylinders and as a further barrier against moisture, they were coated with fiberglass before being placed in the monument. The contractor then sealed the seat to the support with an epoxy material especially made for joining granite surfaces. It will require some expertise to break the seal at the time of opening the time-capsule.

A ceremony to dedicate the monument took place on November 19, 2005. In attendance was the mayor of St. Petersburg, Rick Baker, members of involved departments of city government and other invited guests. Mayor Baker has provided the club with a letter to the mayor of the city in the year 2030 conveying the best wishes of the present administration to the future one to support the Kids and Kubs as they start their second century of play. He also indicated that he expects to be a playing member and president of the club at that time!

1910 – 2008

Paul Good was born on February 25, 1910, in Grandview, TN, and when he was only two years old, his family moved to a remote ranch near the small town of Fondis, CO. There he was brought up in a very active life, and they spent summers on the ranch until 1924. Beginning in 1919 the winters were spent in New Port Richie, FL, and Paul graduated from Gulf High School there. From his early years he was a superb athlete, and after his school years he joined an industry-sponsored semi-pro basketball team long before there was an NBA. In 1931 he led his team to the league championship.

In the meantime he took a job in the office of Western Union in Colorado Springs as an operator and spent 10 years with that firm, becoming the best telegrapher they ever had. In 1940 he was induced to join Merrill-Lynch as an operator, but soon became an account executive dealing in investments for many clients. After 35 years with three well-known firms he retired from the financial world in 1974.

Free from the business routine, he began playing softball with the Bartlett Park League and soon joined the Kids and Kubs. Since then he made many contributions to the club and beginning in 1975 served as president for 13 years. He secured national financing and television commercials featuring the Kids and Kubs, and he led the team to the national championship in 2002. His teams toured the U. S. for tournaments and won their share of games. They have been featured in Pennsylvania, California, Illinois and Texas.

This is a picture of Paul at about age 87. Still very strong indeed! He and the club celebrated his 98th birthday in March 2008. He enjoyed the special meeting with coffee and cake at the Senior Center where the Kids and Kubs office is located. Paul Good died on November 16, 2008.

After retiring as an active player he was the major sponsor of the annual Golden Seniors tournament in St. Petersburg, FL. He represented the Kids and Kubs at the St. Petersburg City Council meeting celebrating the 75th anniversary of the club in 2005, and in 2008 welcomed the teams at the City Hall Stars versus Kids and Kubs All-Star game. Paul’s long experience and broad vision enabled him to continue to promote senior softball both locally and nationally. He was an inspiration to all who participated in the sport.

He was enshrined in the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2002.