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TOPIC: Elwin Baxter- league president for 20 years... |
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| Stevens 4
November 8, 2012
10:59:05 AM
Entry #: 4008523
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BAXTER, ELWIN N. SR., 78, of Victory Highway, Foster, RI passed away on Saturday, November 3, 2012 in Inverness, FL. He was the husband of the late Helen L. (Sweet) Baxter. Born in Providence, RI, he was the son of the late Norman and Myrtie (Salls) Baxter. Mr. Baxter was an electrician for the former Hochest Chemical Company in Coventry, RI for thirty-seven years until his retirement. He was also an Army Veteran of the Korean War and a life member of Club Jogues and the North American Hunting Club, a member of the Highland Rod and Gun Club of Foster, the President for twenty years of the Coventry Slow Pitch Softball League, a member of the Hochest Bowling League and he belonged to the Local 64 Teamsters Union. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. He is survived by his three sons Elwin N., Jr., Brian, and Alan Baxter, four brothers Clarence, David, Robert, and Raymond Baxter, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son James Baxter and a brother William Baxter. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 10:00 am in the Gorton-Menard Funeral Home and Crematory, 721Washington Street, Coventry, RI. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, November 9, 2012, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Burial with full Military Honors will be in Greenwood Burial Ground in Coventry, RI. For online condolences visit gortonmenardfuneralhome.com.
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| lb4lb-7
November 8, 2012
3:13:51 PM
Entry #: 4008666
| RIP Baxter. Ran a good league. Ran a good team. Many of the leagues current players started playing on Baxters Team. Galloway Marot Vernet Chip of course and many others. Should have kicked Artie out in 2005, but, I wont hold that against you any longer. A real decent gentleman...the league is diminished with his passing.
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| Smitty77
November 8, 2012
4:43:25 PM
Entry #: 4008717
| Baxter did a great job running this league and brought the league to where it is today. He ran a great team and great league. He always fought for the best interests of the league and always took care of his players, and fellow managers.
I learned a lot watching him run this league and think of what he and Helen would have done when we make decisions.
In honor of Elwin, the league website colors have changed to uniform colors of his team "Baxters"
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| RyMan
November 8, 2012
6:51:13 PM
Entry #: 4008793
| RIP Baxter. He got me my start in this league. In the beginning it was just about playing some softball, but the league was so well run and organized that I got hooked on the sport. This is very sad news.
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| E. GALLOWAY
November 8, 2012
7:43:28 PM
Entry #: 4008823
| RIP ELWIN. Many years ago a Gentleman by the name of Elwin Baxter gave me my chance at joining this league.Back when I joined, the CMSL Was a known as a Bar Room league where a bunch of "once a week, fat, out of shape guys" got together every Sunday and played 2 games and went back to the local bar and drank, ate hot dogs and shot the shit and went about our day.The first day I showed up for practice on a Saturday afternoon, there was this older guy wearing jeans, boots and a flannel shirt, smoking a cigarette with a ball glove on his hand, standing out in the outfield and simply was known as Baxter. Little did I know at that time he could still shag the hell out of a ball and throw it back in with the arm of a 35 y/o. After we got done, we went back in to Club Jogues and he ordered 2 pitchers, 1 for the table and 1 for himself, proceeded to pull out his pack of Indianhead Cigs and demolished that pitcher and pack of cigs. It was there , for me, that the legend of Baxter was born. I played 13 more years for the man and never once entertained the motion of playing for anyone else.
Baxter always put his "guys" before himself and as gruff and rough around the edges as he was, Once you got to know the man and he got to know you,you knew he was a man of honesty and integrity.I played on some bad Baxter teams and I played on some not so bad Baxter teams but none the less they were Baxter Teams! Many friendships were formed and to this day they are as strong as ever.Chris Vernet, Todd, Ray Marot, Dave Hoch and Chip are just a few of the solid friendships that were formed as a Result of Elwin Baxter giving me that chance.
Let us never forget that Elwin and Helen were running this league before many were even born and it is as a result of their hard work and dedication that this league is what it is today.
Thank you Smitty and Bob for indulging my one request that the colors of the site be the gray that was synonomous with the Baxter's color just for a couple of days to remember and respect the man that made this possible.
In closing, Thank you Baxter for all you have done and I shall always remember, and respect that cigarette smoking, beer crushing,Gentleman that I grew to love and respect.You will never be forgotten.
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| lb4lb-7
November 8, 2012
7:54:18 PM
Entry #: 4008827
| man that was something to read. Nicely done. You captured the essence of Baxter perfectly Galloway. And Im calling you Galloway out of respect for the guy that went by his last name...Baxter.
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| GQBOSS_38_
November 8, 2012
11:44:07 PM
Entry #: 4008890
| Rest in peace Baxter... much respect & thanks to a man of commitment & integrity. I love our league & I'm proud to be a part of CMSL. Hats off, bottoms up, salute Mr. Baxter!
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| hodde
November 10, 2012
3:13:56 PM
Entry #: 4009671
| eric what you wrote about baxter was so died on, that was awesome to read, very well done.
it would be great to see the league do something in elwin and helen's honor they put so much time and effort into this league, they were the heart and soul of this league for a long time. if the league wants to do something let me know i will help any way i can 965-4737
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| KD
November 10, 2012
11:49:51 PM
Entry #: 4009879
| Very well said Eric! I know what he meant to you. The one thing I remember of him the most was his dedication to his players and the league. May he rest in peace. On a lighter note, I can just see him, Helen, and Cappy now sitting around a table at the big PNA in the sky trying to bring heaven to order. Baxter tapping his empty bud bottle on the table, Cappy pointing his 3 fingers at people, and Helen looking for everyone's player fees. If you are someone who enjoys or enjoyed playing in this league, it is these people you should thank. Again, rest in peace Baxter, your efforts will never be forgotten!!
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