SEYMOUR
No longer will the softball diamond at Freeman Field be referred to simply as softball field No. 1.
On Friday, the city of Seymour dedicated the field to the late Ray "Razor" Edwards, who passed away in November of 2018 and was a fixture in many ways in Jackson County but especially on the softball fields.
It was an emotional morning as friends, family and department of public works employees gathered around the newly minted "Razor Edwards Memorial Field," which is now the third named field in the city.
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The other two are at Gaiser Park and the opposite side of Freeman Field.
"It’s a pretty special event to get a field named," Seymour Mayor Craig A. Luedeman said. "We don’t do it for just anybody and I think that shows you how special Razor was to the city of Seymour and everybody that had any contact with Razor."
Edwards worked for the city of Seymour for more than 20 years and was an avid outdoorsman, spending time on the golf course, playing softball, or hunting and fishing. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and attended United Christian Church in Paris Crossing.
Seymour Department of Public Works Director Bill Everhart joked they couldn’t name the campgrounds and lake at Starve Hollow or Shadowood Golf Course after Edwards, but naming the softball field, where he played many games, after him was a perfect memorial.
"Razor had a passion for softball," Everhart said. "From this day forward, this field will be called the "Razor Edwards Memorial Field."
However, the naming of the field wasn’t the only thing to happen on Friday.
In addition to the dedication to the field, the return of slow pitch softball in Seymour is in the works.
The hope is to have the Seymour Open return this year, which will be named the "Ray ‘Razor’ Edwards Seymour Open" and will continue to be beyond 2019.
Many local sponsors jumped on to help restart the softball tournament. The title sponsors are Chad and Lori Keithly of Brewskies Grub and Pub in Seymour.
A sign with Edwards’ name and jersey number will hang on the field fence so everyone who comes to play softball there will know they’re playing on his field.