State declares Friday as Joe Nuxhall day
The Ol' Lefthander will be honored at Great American Ball Park
Thursday, August 17, 2006
It will be a day they'll have to honor even up in Cleveland.
By proclamation of the state of Ohio, Friday will be "Joe Nuxhall Day."
Extras
In a ceremony at Great American Ball Park, the Ol' Lefthander will be honored Friday for his achievements on and off the field. The former Reds pitcher and semi-retired play-by-play announcer will be presented with an Ohio General Assembly resolution by Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp., before the Cincinnati Reds game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kim Nuxhall said his dad is somewhat embarrassed when he receives recognition for something he loves to do.
Kim Nuxhall said it was "one of those overwhelmingly nice things."
"Whenever something like this happens, I think there's a part of him that's a little embarrassed, but he's certainly touched by this," Nuxhall said. "What do you say when something like this happens? You really don't know what to say sometimes."
Joe Nuxhall is on the road with the team and unavailable for comment.
Cates wanted to honor the man he says is arguably the county's "No. 1 citizen."
"Joe Nuxhall has been a very special person in Butler County and the family of the Cincinnati Reds. I wanted to do something to salute him," Cates said. "Even our friends in Cleveland will have to observe this one."
The statewide one-day observance also will be used to help the fundraising efforts for the Joe Nuxhall Children's Center.
One Way Farm, a home for abandoned, abused and neglected children, is working with Nuxhall to build a 21,000-square-foot gym and center to house one branch of the Fairfield City School District's Alternative School, multipurpose rooms and athletic facilities.
Since the project's launch 18 months ago, it has received all of the zoning approvals necessary and architectural drawings have been created. But it has raised only $200,000 of the
$2 million needed.
"We need about $1.8 million more. We are asking people to make a major contribution," One Way Farm Executive Director Barb Condo said.
The center will be a "fabulous tribute" to Nuxhall, Condo said.
"We share the same things, as far as children of disabilities and disadvantage," Condo said. "The Character foundation will have a home site in this also. They've done things, but they didn't have a home."
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.
