He has seen county versus county in all-star baseball and softball tournaments and has also been part of a place that has expanded to other locations in the area. Perpall has filtered through the years that have seen the kids sport the baggy baseball pants to the new fashion style uniforms of today.
Not only has Perpall experienced all the above, but he has also logged in the hours performing duties that we don’t see. His duties out of the public eye exceed past the supervision of each field or gym and the maintaining of facilities. His season of life as director has included good and the bad times, the compliments and complaints, and the bashings and/or pats on the back. He has witnessed kids growing from very young children to successful adults whose kids now play on the same fields as their parents once did. His season of life has also included having the privilege of seeing one young boy in our county go from T-ball to the major leagues.
I am sure that Dick would be the first to tell anyone that he has had his sweet and sour times throughout the years. In the end, he would also be the first to tell you how rewarding it is to see the youth have a place to play in a fun and safe environment. Now after long 32 years, Perpall will have the opportunity of enjoying yet another season of life; retirement.
We say goodbye to a huge part of the success of the Madison County Recreation Department. He is a person who has put so much effort into making sure our kids have a safe, clean, and family friendly park and program. But all of his efforts and accomplishments reach much deeper than what we see on the ball fields day in and day out. The direction of a well-rounded staff that includes Robin Pendleton, Dee Reynolds, Grady Autry, and many more employees who have passed through.
In 1992, my first year as sports editor of the former Danielsville Monitor/Comers News, I had the privilege of getting to meet Dick Perpall. It didn’t take but a few minutes during that short introduction to see the heart and passion of a man who cared about the youth of our county. As I covered sports from week to week at the recreation department, I developed a good friendship with Dick. As a result of that growing friendship, we were able to share many personal stories outside of our jobs. Stories of his kids Ryan and Suzanne and wife Carol and being introduced to them all was an honor for me. I quickly learned that Dick is a very dedicated man not only to his job but also his faith, family, church and county. There’s a very valuable lesson that we can learn from others, a lesson I learned from my friendship with Dick Perpall and that is the way we treat others can be more valuable than the title we hold. I appreciate not only the job and success that Dick’s impact has had on Madison County, but the dedication all his seasons of life. Those seasons include being a dedicated father, husband, and friend.
My days of covering sports for Madison County ended a while back, but my friendship with Dick continues to this day. Our friendship would have never developed if he would have been a person who just only lived behind his title and not his heart for people. He made himself available to people and has always been interested in more than just making sure our kids have a good time on the fields.
Now comes the rewarding part of this new season of life for Dick. A time to spend playing with grandchildren, travel, hobbies on the farm he lives on, and time with his wife Carol — all rewards well deserved for a long dedication of 32 years of seasons. As I remember from covering sports here over the years, it’s hard to please some people all the time, but our effort in trying is what we hope people will remember. I will remember and appreciate Dick’s efforts to please. I hope you will do the same. To Dick: Job well done my friend!
Dallas Bordon is the former sports editor for The Comer News/Danielsville Monitor.
