A 35 foot flagpole was dedicated and an American & North Carolina flag raised in honor of the late coach Mike Newsome last week.

With the help from the Roanoke Valley citizens this honor was able to come to life.

Coach Newsome was a great friend to me (Randy Wrenn) for my 14 years while I had been working covering the Roanoke Valley sports. He loved being honored with the naming of the Michael Grant softball fields at Chockeyotte Park and was as proud of his rock honoring him. He once told me all the fields were missing was a nice flagpole. Well now the fields are complete and have a beautiful flagpole in his honor.

After coach Newsome passing in January I reached out to his wife Gene and asked if she was ok if I researched in placing a flagpole in his honor at the fields honoring his name. Ms. Newsome stated' " I know he would be proud to have a flagpole in his honor."

I then got approval from Roanoke Rapids Parks & Recreation Director John Simeon, who also was on board.

I want to thank Mike & Wanda Butts of 1800flagpole.com of Littleton. They stepped up to the plate right at the beginning. They drove me around and showed me several flagpoles they had installed in the area and even stated they wanted to help by only charging the cost of the pole because of what coach Newsome meant to them and the area.

With the help of many people in the community the complete amount was raised 3 months to purchase a 35 foot flagpole with both an American & NC flag. Such people as Eddie Ruble, Ellen Mullins, Joyce Jones, Tammy Colston, Leslie Acree, Cathy Pruitt, Ken Pruitt, Cindy Greater, Sheriff Wes Tripp, Scott Hall, Jay Burch, former Sheriff Jeff Frazier, Marcia Hudson, Sharon Oliver, Carrie Hall, Kay Wray, Linda Ruble, Lisa Price, Katelynn Price, James Roberts, Northampton Wellness Center, Christian Love, Nissan of Roanoke Rapids, WPTM 102.3, Discount Tire of Roanoke Rapids, Susan McDonald (Chaloner Middle), Jan Tugwell (RRHS), Heather Dickens (Belmont), Jen Ott (Manning) & Ms. Williams (KIPP High).

Sponsors and donators: Discount Tire of Roanoke Rapids, W.C Jones & McPherson Beverages (Pepsi), Clary's Speedway, Wendy's. Food Lion, B&J Cash & Carry, Flowers Bakery, George Collins of Little Debbie, Davis Body Shop, Quality Printing & Lynches signs & Graphics, Roanoke Rapids High School, Oscar's restaurant, Scott's Flooring, Hudson Motorsports, TD Sports screen-printing.

Al Cooke of Cooke Construction stepped up and donated his time and labor of his workers to install the cement that was donated by Rightmyer Machine and see the project completed with the 35 foot pole standing ready to fly the flags. Halifax Electric alone with Dominion Power also gave time and equipment to make the pole erect.

I want to again Thank You all who helped or purchased a meal, or played softball to help this flagpole come to life. If you have not seen it yet, please stop by and take a look and think of coach Newsome looking down smiling watching the kids play ball.

Coach Mike Newsome 1947-2015