By Staff
A LASTING TRIBUTE Audrey Clark, widow of longtime ECCC baseball coach Jamie Clark, who died of cancer seven months ago, stands at a monument dedicated Monday in the coach's memory at the newly-named Jamie Clark Memorial Stadium. Photo by Sherie Bradford / The Meridian Star
By Marty Stamper/staff writer
Feb. 19, 2002
DECATUR Monday afternoon was the rare kind of perfect mid-February day when a person could really enjoy being at an afternoon baseball game … the kind of day that would always bring a huge grin to the late East Central Community College head baseball coach Jamie Clark's face.
It was the kind of blue-sky day where Clark could have looked down and been absolutely amazed at what was going on at the ECCC baseball field where he led the Warriors for 14 years before losing his battle with cancer last July.
ECCC honored Clark by naming its baseball facility Jamie Clark Memorial Stadium before a huge gathering of fellow faculty members, current and former players, opposing coaches, students and a whole lot of friends.
A monument in Clark's memory located between the bleachers and the first base dugout was unveiled.
Also included in the day's festivities was the retiring of Clark's No. 41.
A replica of Clark's No. 41 hangs on the fence in right field, while the gray jersey he wore when the Warriors won the 1998 MACJC state championship will be on display in the lobby of the Brackeen-Wood Physical Education Building.
Several other improvements to the stadium will be made in Clark's memory.
Clark's widow, Audrey Clark; daughter, Nicki; and stepson, Billy Turner; were on hand.
Audrey Clark agreed that Jamie, who never liked to be in the spotlight, would be absolutely stunned at the honor and turnout.