The elderly man was searching for an item in his basement for his wife when he found an old friend. The leather was cracked, and the strings were brittle but on the faded backside the word Rawlings was still visible. He pushed his wrinkled left hand inside and pressed the pocket to his face. Instantly his mind flooded back over five decades to a time when he was a hero on a large green carpet and his trusty glove rarely failed him. For 16 of those early years, he found confidence, love, competition, friendship, success, and defeat and he would not change one minute of it. Softball—it was just a game then, but boy was it fun. 

On April the 16, 1935 at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, IL, Dave and Elma Genseal of Bartonville, welcomed their new baby girl Sandra Elaine into the world. She would attend Oak Grove Grade School and Manual High School. Sandy delivered newspapers and worked at her folks’ chicken hatchery business. Her sister Karen, was born in 1943 and she helped mom keep tabs on her. She played softball in school and learned how to swim in the Kickapoo Creek. She had enough credits her senior year so she also worked at the Greater Peoria Credit Bureau. 

Not long after graduating from Manual, Caterpillar hired her as a messenger in the secretary pool, and one day a somewhat bashful and shy draftsman trainee, fresh out of the Navy, caught sight of her. She said then that opposites don’t attract but to Ray Tippett, it just didn’t matter. Ray was born July 26, 1930 and was a Spalding High graduate. On September 3,1955 they married. In 1956 their first son, Stephen Ray, arrived and in 1958, two beautiful baby girls were born—Debra Jean and Elizabeth Ann. Then Brian Robert followed in 1961 completing their family. In 1962 they moved from Wilson St. to Glendale St. near Shore Acres Park in Chillicothe and for the next 62 years, the cozy little white house with the four pillars was home. 

At Shore Acres Park, the ball field had seen better days. In the late 60s the popularity of fast-pitch softball was on the rise and Ray knew what had to be done. In the years to come, he and Sandy side by side began the process with many eager volunteers hungry to play and help donate their time and talents to repair, replace, and beautify a facility which would later draw teams from all around the Peoria area. Side by side Ray and Sandy organized work parties and benefits to raise money for needed fencing and other construction materials to upgrade the complex. Many strong relations and friendships were formed along the journey. A new lighted scoreboard lived in right-center field and several donated poles. Well-lit night games helped to illuminate a crisp well-manicured diamond with a sophisticated professional look.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” 

—Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

When you have skin in the game, you appreciate it more. New bleachers and dugouts soon followed.

Many summers have come and gone since Sandy and Ray started to breathe new life—with volunteer muscle—back into the dirt and grass at Shore Acres field where many hands made light work. Side by side they umpired numerous games of men’s fast pitch and adult slow pitch teams. Many Little League hardball players got to display their talents at tournaments like Brad Wallins for St. Jude’s and others on this new field of dreams.

During this span of about 40 years they raised a family, supported their Chicago Cubs and Bears, and side by side loved to frequent Blarney Castle in Rome for Bill and Freda Flemings all-star pizza. 

But in 2011 the architect and father of the successful joint efforts of many volunteers who restored the field to glory, sadly passed away. A large number of people in and around Chillicothe will always remember Ray Tippett and his strong-willed, formidable and compassionate life’s partner, Sandy, who stood side by side with him for 56 years. Sandy holds in the highest regard the memory of those dedicated to Chillicothe softball and activities. People like: Wayne Lawson, Bill Minnes, Kevin Hancher, Jean McLaughlin, Chuck McCord, J Fleming, Bill Fleming, John Kelley, Bob Fulton, Susan Hayward, and many others. 

Nowadays, Sandy stays busy volunteering and helping worthy causes that help others, like crocheting small caps for preemie babies and afghans for patients at St. Francis to keep them warm. In the past, she always supported Rescue 33 and helped set up Donut Days each year. She belonged to the Chillicothe Softball Association, was a member of the Park Board for 16 years, and regularly helps make snack packs for needy kids to take home. She will always be known as an intrinsic part of the rich history of softball at Shore Acres Park and her effect on many young people will endure. She was an outstanding bowler with a highly competitive nature and played for the Chilli Peppers Softball team. She attends Cubs Spring Training games with her longtime friend Janet Gilomen and often reflects back to the times when her champion sat with her side by side for many years in the sun.

“If you get there before I do, don’t give up on me, I’ll meet you when my chores are through, I don’t know how long I’ll be, but I’m not going to let you down, darling wait and see, and between now and then, ‘til I see you again, I’ll be lovin you, Love me.”

–Collin Raye

So that scrappy little girl who learned to swim in the Kickapoo Creek, and played, coached, officiated, and loved the game, is definitely one of our community’s heroes. There have been and always will be heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, occupations, and stature and now Sandra Elaine Tippett who also loved third baseman Ron Santo, joins those ranks. Her loyalty is to the Cubs but her heart lives in Chillicothe. Thank you Sandy.