Turning out the lights after decades of tending to youth ballfields

Blessed Sacrament’s athletic director is retiring after decades of official and volunteer service. His oversight of the Wichita parish’s baseball diamonds has left a big impact on youth athletics.

By Jacinda Hall/The Journal

Groundskeeping is a basic part of baseball field maintenance, but for 79-year-old Pat Harter, taking care of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School’s baseball fields has been a labor of love.

In fact, he has been taking care of a field for so long that the parish named it in his honor. 

Harter, who is Blessed Sacrament’s athletic director, has held many jobs at the parish for 50 years and this month marks his retirement. The church hosted a retirement reception for him on Sunday.

Before becoming the athletic director for the parish, Harter had become involved in the baseball program, and was the director of the program for 48 of the 50 years. Most of that time was spent as a volunteer.

“Keeping up with the field and everything is part of that (the baseball program director’s) responsibility,” Harter said. 

Prior to his position with the school, Harter did marketing and accounting for Cessna Aircraft for 42 years, until his retirement in 2009 and officially became the athletic director for the middle school sports programs in 2010.

Harter said that his favorite part about his job was being able to work with the kids and helping with the sports programs.

”It’s always fun to see them develop through the years,” Harter said. “As far as the baseball program, we’ve given them a good summer activity, get them out of the house, get them out doing something fun, where they can build skills, and teamwork, and all the aspects of organized sports.”

Harter said that when he retires, he will miss working with the kids and giving them constructive activity.

”I’ve met a lot of people. I’ve been really blessed,” Harter said. “The whole thing’s been an important part of our lives, and it’s a way that we’re able to give back and pay it forward.”

With his retirement coming up, Harter says he is looking forward to being more active with his life as well as being more active with his grandchildren.

“My wife, she likes to travel, so we’re gonna plan on doing a whole lot of traveling,” he said. “I still play a lot of pickleball and golf, so I’ll continue those activities.”

Harter said that he is grateful for the hundreds of volunteers that have helped run the summer baseball program over the past 50 years, as well as the thousands of kids that have been involved. 

“We have kids in the program that have become parents, and come back and coach their kids,” Harter said. “Even grandparents involved in coaching their grandkids. It’s fun to look back on those and all the friendships I’ve made over the years.”