Our Founder Jim Heffern

We would not have our over 50 or over 60 softball leagues if it were not for the efforts of Jim Heffern. Jim has published a book about how this all came about, and you can order this book from Barnes & Noble or Borders. The title is "Just One More Season" by J.M. Heffern.

Check out the video at the bottom.

I once had the pleasure of visiting Jim's den in his home where there are several remarkable photographs of famous football players from the past, with Jim in the same photo, such as the first Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger, and other Heisman Trophy winners Glen Davis (1946 Army), Dick Kazmaier (1951 Princeton), Johnny Lattner (1953 Notre Dame), pro golfer Gary Hallberg at the opening day at Fox Run along with Jim and Lew Smith (former park district commissioner and Fox Run course architect and former player for the Grumpies), and Senator Laxalt of Nevada, a presidential hopeful in 1988.

Jim also formed activities for over 50 basketball, volleyball, and bowling. Jim was a founder and narrator for Elk Grove TV Channel 6, and also helped form youth football and senior volleyball and bowling events, and started a "ROMEO" group which means Retired Old Men Eating Out. If it were not for him, a lot of us would have morphed into couch potatoes long ago. Thanks Jim, may your efforts serve as an example for the rest of us to get off our voluminous derrieres and do something for our community.



On Oct 24 Bartrum Park was renamed Jim Heffern Park in honor of the many things Jim has done for our village, see the Label link to the right for more details.  A sizable crowd was here, including several speakers like our mayor, trustees, and park district officials, including a fly-over (commercial jet), and you need to see the channel 6 replay when the unveiling of the sign was accompanied by a torrential downpour.  One of the attendees remarked, Jim you really know how to christen a field. You should have been here, because without Jim, we would have no senior softball, or channel 6, or youth football, or...I could go on, but Jim you are a great example of what a dedicated citizen can do, may your actions inspire others to do the same. God bless!