Son plans to further father's legacy
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Local residents will get a chance this year to help cement Joe Nuxhall's legacy in his hometown and beyond.
The senior Nuxhall, a Reds Hall of Famer pitcher and long-time Fairfield resident, died Nov. 15 after suffering from a number of health ailments, including lymphoma, pneumonia and a failing heart. Nuxhall's son, Kim Nuxhall, said he is working on a number of events in 2008 that will benefit the Joe Nuxhall Hope Project.
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Fairfield Community Foundation President Sally Braun expects this year to be a banner year for the Hope Project, the umbrella fund for the Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund, Joe Nuxhall Scholarship, One Way Farm gym project, Reds Rookie Success League of Butler County and Miracle League. The foundation manages finances for the projects under the Hope Project.
"Joe wanted desperately to get several of these things off the ground, as Kim did. I don't think he expected to pass as quickly as he did," Braun said. "I think he wanted to see several of these projects come to fruition."
On April 3, Jungle Jim's Oscar Center, 5440 Dixie Highway, will host an event similar to last year's Hope Project kickoff. The event is still in the preliminary planning stages, but Kim Nuxhall said some of his father's memorabilia will be auctioned to help raise money for the Hope Project.
"It's kind of a celebration of dad's life," Kim Nuxhall said.
The annual Joe Nuxhall Golf Outing, which benefits the Joe Nuxhall Scholarship, will be held June 16 and is being organized through the Community Foundation. This year "it will be the biggest ever," Kim Nuxhall said, mainly because a committee headed by Sandy Becker of Bayer and Becker will be dedicated to its organization.
"There's great potential for growth," Kim Nuxhall said. "I have a little saying in my head, 'When the right people want the right things done, the right things get done.' And these are the right people to carry this on."
Kim Nuxhall said he is trying to get some notable co-chairs of the outing, possibly the Cincinnati Reds broadcasters, as well as well-known honorary co-chairs.
The day after the golf outing, the second annual Reds Rookie Success League of Butler County will kick off. Kim Nuxhall said the goal is to have 200 participants.
In October, a second golf outing is planned to benefit the Joe Nuxhall Character Education Fund.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.
