Ron Myers Field is a fitting tribute

TOPIC: Ron Myers Field
OUR VIEW: Well deserved honor

A familiar face pacing the first base dugout at Elizabethtown High School will become a fixture at the field where he led the school to hundreds of wins.

The recent announcement by Elizabethtown Independent Schools that the field at Panther Baseball Park will be named Ron Myers Field after the legendary head coach is a fitting tribute to a man who led the school to two Kentucky High School Athletic Association state championships in five years (1970 and ’75).

A member of the 5th Region Athletic Directors and State Baseball Coaches halls of fame, Myers spent 30 years as the EHS head coach and retired in 1999. While at EHS, the program was perennially a region title contender and a threat many years to make a run at a state championship.

Myers started his coaching career at Fort Knox High School and ranked 14th in all-time wins with 727 when this season started, including a 613-253-3 record at EHS. In addition to the pair of state titles, the Panthers finished with state runner-ups finishes in 1978 and ’92.

Along the way, Myers and the Panthers created memories for themselves and their fan base. Several of his former players have gone on to become baseball coaches as well.

Thad Elmore spent seven years at his alma mater as head coach, while Todd Thompson, a member of the ‘92 state runner-up team at EHS, guided Central Hardin High School to the 2011 state championship. The pitching coach on Thompson’s staff is former Panther baseball player Demond Thomas.

Known as an intense coach, Myers was a central part of the Panthers’ baseball tradition as EHS dominated around the area and sustained the program.

It is an appropriate tribute to recognize Myers this way and for all the successes he helped the Panthers achieve.

A ceremony is expected to be held during this season to unveil the field name.

Myers said he considered the naming of the field “quite an honor; it really is. I don’t think words can express that. I really appreciate the effort of a lot of people — a lot of players, I’ll tell you.’’

This is one way his school is giving back to him and showing the immense appreciation they have for him and all he achieved for the school.

This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enterprise's editorial board.