BY
"DR. JOHN" RABER

It was the Spring of 1973 and I was a relative newcomer to Dahlonega, Ga. I asked my daughter Daina what activities she wanted to be involved with in the summer. With an inquisitive look on her face she said, "I guess I'll lie around the pool since there is little else to do." Somewhat in shock I said, What about softball, you really enjoy that."? Daina replied, "They don't have softball for girls or boys"

After overcoming the shock of disbelief, I immediately decided to start a girl’s softball program. With the help of the local paper, flyers and word of mouth, some 68 excited young girls showed up eager and willing to play softball.

My next challenge was to get some help organizing and coaching the young hopefuls. However, although the 68 girls were willing and able, all of the community was not as receptive. In fact, I did not get one volunteer to help me. It seems that some, but thankfully not all, of the local populace thought that young girls should be learning to cook and sew but certainly not sweat.

That being said and understood I divided the 68 girls into four teams and I decided to coach all four teams. Then, I went down to the little league fields and got another shock when I was told that girls were forbidden to play on the sanctimonious all male play areas. At that point and time I contacted Dr. John Owen who was the president of North Georgia University and he allowed us to play on the college drill fields.

Stepping up to the plate was Alma Bowen, a fantastic newspaper reporter from the "Gainesville, GA. Times." Alma was more than supportive of my challenge and she wrote a full page article in a Sunday edition entitled A Man and His Girls. Within a week I would have $1900.00 in donations and our equipment/uniform needs would be taken care of. In turn, community support would be much better

It would become immediately obvious that I was more than a coach. I was father, motivator, supporter, consoler, official, moderator, and counselor to 68 wonderful young girls who only wanted a chance to be involved in healthy recreational activities.

The second year of the program some caring women like Ann Lawson and Gail Justus came forward and volunteered to coach. Things got a whole lot easier with more than one person involved.

In the 4th year the Park and Recreation program took over the girls softball program and yes, they were allowed to play on the little league fields. Currently, the community is heavily involved in girls’ athletic programs and from t-ball up, girls softball receives strong support.

My life has allowed me to be involved with a lot of great events. None of them has ever given me any more of a long lasting good warm feeling than being involved with those 68 young girls. Many of these young girls have gone on to become outstanding professionals in many walks of life. I don't recall hearing or reading about even one of these 68 girls ever being in trouble in school or in life.