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Welcome to the Bob Henry T-Ball Field

| 21 Jun 2013 | 12:47
    Welcome to the Bob Henry T-Ball Field
    Bob Henry, left, coached both Tony Licursi, left and his son, Zack. Henry has been part of the West Milford Little League for nearly 40 years.
    Bob Henry, left, coached both Tony Licursi, left and his son, Zack. Henry has been part of the West Milford Little League for nearly 40 years.
    Bob Henry speaks to the crowd at the dedication of the field to him. At right is West Milford Little League President John Fabbo.
    Bob Henry speaks to the crowd at the dedication of the field to him. At right is West Milford Little League President John Fabbo.
    Pictured here is the Henry family, from left, Kristen Elsishans, Tim Henry, Colleen Henry, Bob Henry, Kate Elsishans, Mary Henry, and Kathy Henry holding baby Molly.
    Pictured here is the Henry family, from left, Kristen Elsishans, Tim Henry, Colleen Henry, Bob Henry, Kate Elsishans, Mary Henry, and Kathy Henry holding baby Molly.
    Bob Henry threw out the first pitch at the field dedication.
    Bob Henry threw out the first pitch at the field dedication.

WEST MILFORD — Bob Henry makes every kid, every parent feel like they are a part of West Milford baseball, from the day they walk onto the field. That's how John Fabbo, president of the West Milford Little League, described the man who has been part of the league for well over 30 years. To honor him, the Little League recently renamed its T-Ball field between Westbrook School and West Milford High School the Bob Henry Field.

Fabbo said the idea to rename the field came up at a Little League meeting.

"We really wanted to improve the T-Ball field and make it something special," Fabbo said. "We were throwing around names of famous people (to name the field after) and someone suggested Bob Henry. As soon as his name came up, everybody thought "that's it!"

Henry, 67, started coaching in West Milford in the early 1970s. He's been a youth and high school umpire for over 30 years. Many of his former players are coaches themselves now and over 100 of his former players have played or are now playing in college. He is even coaching the children of former players! Many were at the ceremony to honor him, including Tony Licursi and his son Zack.

"He is a very selfless person," said Fabbo. "He's tireless; he'll do anything for anyone."

Henry doesn't just coach. He puts in countless hours keeping care of the fields in town, dragging, lining, maintaining and repairing the batting cages. He is a big part of the Friends of West Milford Baseball, which raises money for improvements to the fields.

"He has dedicated his life to the youth of West Milford," said league vice president Mark Minadeo. "Bob henry is West Milford baseball."

Minadeo is not alone with that thought. Fabbo said there is no agenda with him, it's all about the players.

"And most important, it's all about the kids," said Fabbo. "He just wants them to have a good time. He is dedicated to making baseball better in West Milford."