The East Texas Chapter lost a "DAMN GOOD" umpire this afternoon in Gary Heatherington. He was my first umpire when I came into the Gulf South Conference. I worked with him for 4 years before moving to another crew. Even more importantly, he was a BETTER MAN and a strong Christian. His faith was his word and he was as good as it gets. There is NOTHING this man wouldn't do for you or his fellow man....give you the shirt off his back, or be there to pick you up when you are feeling down....I feel like a part of me has died this afternoon.... He always had a smile on his face and there wasn't a time that went by when I talked to him and since my parents moved to Longview, that he didn't offer to go by there house and see if they needed anything. He was a towering man, a few inches taller than me, yet had the heart of teddy bear.....Never, ever had a bad word to say about anyone.....he was definitely in a class above most.........59 years old and standing up in heaven now, with a smile on his face and I can feel him telling me everything is okay....but it's not......Please keep his wife, Connie, and his family in your prayers......There aren't many like him around.....
