Robert Palmer was the model of a Hall of Famer in terms of sports service. Palmer, who died in 1994, gave his time and his money for Little League Baseball. He was a huge part of Little League South for 30 years, more than 20 as its president, and he kept working at South long after his own children had gone through the league. More than once, it was his money that kept the league alive and going – it was his diligence and dedication to Southside youngsters...The league’s fields are named in his honor. Palmer was born in Keysville, Georgia and grew up in Pittsburgh but Elyria was his home for 47 years. Not only was he active in Little League, he was president of the Elyria Neighborhood Center from 1975 until his death. Coming out of the pandemic in the spring of 2021, Aric Bowens had a vision to bring the sport back to the city, following an approx. 20 years gap without baseball on the southside of Elyria. Under Mayor Frank Whitfield’s administration, collaborations with the city of Elyria Parks and Recreations and YWCA of Elyria, the vision came to life. Boots on the ground, recruitment and the dedication of volunteers throughout the city, we were able to enroll 80 athletes/8 teams (boys and girls) into the tee ball program.