New Benches at Hooper Park Commemorate Bob Purdy

Visitors to Hooper Park will notice a few additions thanks to Doug and Laurie Richards and the Bob Purdy Softball Tournament.

The Richards have this past week completed installation of three park benches and one aggregate trash container.

The idea for park benches has been brewing with Laurie and Doug for a couple of years now, with a permanent plaque on each in tribute to Bob Purdy who lent his spirit, and love of community and kids in everything he did. "Bob loved kids here and supported their games and sports," Laurie explained, "he loved anything to do with kids in Lincoln and would do anything to help, including coaching."

A logging truck operator with the Delaney Sawmill east of Lincoln, Purdy's life was cut short in 1983 when a log shifted and struck him in the head just after his first grandchild was born. He was 50 years old, said Doug.

Lincoln's tight-knit community has always felt the loss of one of their own intensely but this was a personal loss to many including Laurie Richards. Her family and the Purdys had been close friends since she was an infant. The two families had lived next door during the 1960s when her dad, Art Glaze worked as foreman of the Delaney Sawmill. Her best friend growing up was Purdy's young daughter, Patti. Along with her two brothers, Jeff and Tim, the kids shared many childhood adventures. Even when the Glaze family moved into town and bought property on Hwy. 200, the Glazes soon followed and bought adjacent land for their own home. "We were neighbors again," said Laurie, "and I have so many great memories from those times."

After Bob's accident, his wife Alene wanted to memorialize him in some way and started the Bob Purdy Memorial Softball Tournament. It has been going strong ever since. This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the tournament bringing families to Lincoln and campers to Hooper Park for a weekend of camaraderie and competition. When Alene's health deteriorated, Doug and Laurie and the Wheel Inn took it over to keep Purdy's spirit and sense of sportsmanship alive.

Proceeds from the tournament's entry fees fund a scholarship in Bob's name every year for a graduating senior of Lincoln High School. After each year's expenses there was a reserve amount left that the Richards wanted to use the accumulated funds to further commemorate Purdy's legacy in Lincoln in for years to come. Laurie had noticed the cement benches at the Sculpture Park and those at Augusta High School were attractive and would work nicely at the Hooper Park ballfields. After checking where they had been purchased, she learned they came from a regional pre-cast concrete company in Great Falls, Fagenstrom's. It has been a staple of the Great Falls area for at least three generations offering quality pre-cast concrete furniture and masonry supplies. The Richards decided on three benches set on a concrete pad, one for each ball field and one at the skate park, plus an unmovable trash container. On each bench is a permanent plaque stating: "In Loving Memory of Bob Purdy." Plans are underway to include additional trash containers for the ballfields, said Laurie.

Hooper Park owes a measure of gratitude to the Richards and the tournament ballplayers. Both Laurie and Doug were seen this past week preparing the grounds (digging and leveling), which in Lincoln includes troublesome rocks to deal with and a lot of sweat equity, to receive the concrete pads.

They are a fine addition to the park and will be used by many for future tournaments and Little League games to come. We thank you Laurie and Doug for reminding us of the Lincoln spirit through sports, community, youth, and the legacy of Bob Purdy. May it live on.