HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0599.012 2022-2024 Co in k. 56101
From: sam thomas
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2023 11:44 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Policy Committee on Health, Safety and Well-Being, Bill 103 ,
Hawai'i County Council -Policy Committee on Health,Safety and Well-Being C.,
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii, 96720
•
Re: Bill 103 '
Lisa •
Aloha Chair Kagiwada and Committee Members,
My name is Sam Thomas, I am writing in support of Bill 103,an ordinance with its intent of naming the baseball field within
the Dr. Francis Wong stadium as the James"Jimmy" Correa Ballfield.
I was honored to have played baseball for Coach Correa both in High School and the Chiefs baseball club. I am especially
heartened to see that the proposed honor is not only based on his athletic endeavors but also for inspiration of his players
beyond baseball. Coach Correa was not a "Hugger" or one to have deep emotional conversations with, he was a simple
man who exuded "Doing the right thing" not only by words but more so by his actions and interactions. I was a product
of a single-parent household,which often meant facing a nearly 4 mile walk to a Waiakea home after practice, but Coach
Correa would often give me rides home despite his living on the opposite side of town in Wainaku. I certainly was not the
most-talented player, but Coach Correa certainly,never treated me any less than the best players on the team and in fact
seemed to invest more of himself towards making me a better player and person.
Our High School team was not very competitive at times, but playing for him was more about respect and "Real" life. He
insisted upon respect for the game,the officials,your opponents,your teammates and (and seemingly, most importantly)
yourself. Coaches often speak of teaching life lessons through sports, Coach Correa never once spoke of teaching life
lessons, he simply taught it by who he was and how he lived. Baseball plays were often taught in terms of "Real life"
scenarios that did not involve baseball, but which were simple enough so that the connections were made by young
impressionable teenagers striving for adulthood.
I myself have a nearly 40-year record of coaching various teams from T-ball age through High School and try to emulate
Coach Correa in my own coaching in terms of respect for others. I spent nearly 38 years with the Hawai'i Police
Department, nearly 10 years as an adjunct faculty member of the Hawai'i Community College and over 2 years as a
Director of Operations Support for a private school. In those roles, I was able to observe firsthand the value a Coach
Correa has on our community. I was extremely happy that one of my sons got to play for him and recall telling my son
"Whenever you can, sit next to Coach Correa and listen to every word he says no matter to who and ask him as many
questions as possible". I could think of no one better who could teach my son about respect, life lessons and the"Real"
world.
In closing, I humbly ask that proposed Bill 103 be passed.
Mahalo,
Sam Thomas
Comm.
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1 Ref. Dote c ® 5 2023