Huntington Alumni Kickball Tournament on April 24
The call has gone out to all Huntington School District elementary school alumni to play in a kickball tournament on Saturday, April 24 from 2-5 p.m. at Huntington High School.
Proceeds generated at the event will benefit the newly established Let It Begin with Me – William F. Oliva Memorial Scholarship Fund, which honors the 1984 Huntington High School grad who perished in a tragic workplace accident.
The round robin kickball tournament is open to anyone who attended elementary school in the Huntington School District. Organizers say the competition will determine which school still has the best kickball players.
For information about the event or to pre-register contact Rose Kitzmiller (RoseKitzmiller@gmail.com). Information is also available on Facebook at http://www.tinyurl.com/HuntingtonKickball. Participants are asked to make a $20 donation to the scholarship fund. Corporate sponsorships in any amount are also being sought. Registration is also available on game day. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate.
Alumni from all the Huntington elementary schools are expected to attend, including some buildings that have since been closed such as Lincoln, Woodbury Avenue, Village Green, Nathan Hale and Roosevelt.
The Oliva scholarship is expected to become a prized award at the school. “Billy was very well liked and was always kind to all around him,” recalled Chris Lauro, a fellow 1984 alum who was best friends with Mr. Oliva. “His untimely death was very much felt in our community. He did have a passion for sport and was a natural athlete. He played on the football and baseball teams. He loved basketball, hockey and golf, as well. He really liked them all but I think his best talent was in baseball.”
Mr. Oliva was just 38 years old when he suffered the fatal accident in 2004. The Oliva scholarship is expected to be awarded this spring for the first time. “We are hoping the student chosen as the recipient will possess many of the character traits Billy was known for in his life: A commitment to the overall good of the community, dedication to academics, great athletic skills and sportsmanship and a source of encouragement to other classmates,” said Ms. Kitzmiller, who today resides in Sandy Hook, Connecticut but will be back in Huntington for the kickball tournament.
“All in all Billy loved all sports and games,” Mr. Lauro said. “He just enjoyed it like no one else.”
Organizers are hopeful the event will attract several hundred Huntington elementary school alums.
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