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 | | IN MEMORY OF MARY LOEHR |
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THE HISTORY OF MARY LOEHR GIRL'S SOFTBALL
So you're the coach, you have your equipment, your rule book and 12 happy eager faces looking up to you and ready to learn the wonderful game of softball. Then one of those smiling faces looks up at you and asks "The question" ... Who is Mary Loehr, is she on our team?
Born on May 4, 1949, Mary attended Rivera Tiny Tots, Magee Kindergarten, St. Marianne's school, St Paul High School and Rio Hondo College. In the 5th grade her parents Bill and Jackie noticed that Mary was hunching over and took her to the doctor and found out she had scoliosis (lateral curvature of the spine). She was required to wear a neck brace with a rod attached and held up by a hip brace. This did not detour her from being an enthusiastic baseball fan, the Dodgers were her #1 team! She knew all the statistics and players family information, history and dates. On her 16th birthday on Dodger Autograph Day, Don Sutton (Hall of Fame) signed a ball for her and kissed her on both cheeks (she did not wash her face for a week).
In her Dad's 1978 campaign, Mary passed around Bill Loehr's petition to run for Councilman and she was the 1st vote for her dad. During a Norwalk prayer breakfast, she and her dad arrived 1-1/2 hour early, so they could sit in the very first row so she could see Tommy Lasorda (Dodger Manager) guest spokesperson up close.
Bill Loehr said her favorite quote was...
"YOUR FRIENDS ARE MY FRIENDS AND MY FRIENDS ARE YOUR FRIENDS".
Mary Loehr passed away in November of 1978. In 1979 a new girl's softball league was formed at Alice Birney School. Grace Gallegos (Mary's Spanish tutor) suggested it be named in honor of "Mary Loehr". It became known as the "Pico Rivera Mary Loehr Softball League.
"THANKS TO YOU MARY, OUR GIRL'S ARE SHARING YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SPORT OF SOFTBALL FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.
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