The Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame presents the 2004 Distinguished Service Award to Carl F. Ward for his work in the formation and development of Dixie Youth League Sports in Madison County. Forty years ago Carl began his tireless efforts to bring Dixie Youth Baseball to Madison County. He contacted the recruiter, district, state and national directors of Dixie Youth Baseball for organizing a local league. Carl not only played a major role in bringing Dixie League baseball to Jackson, he helped managed the age 10-12 south all-stars in 1965.

The year was 1964 when Carl and Clyde Price presented a proposal to the  County Commission to obtain authorization to build Pope Field. The County appropriated a small amount of money for the project with volunteers raising the remaining amount to fund the field. Carl and others worked very hard to have lights put on the field. The field had a dirt infield so the bases could be moved easily to accommodate the different age groups utilizing the field. The first Dixie Youth League united teams from Bemis, Beech Bluff: Malesus, Huntersville, Madison Hall, North Side, Spring Creek and Lester's Gove, playing on Saturdays for about  three months a year.

The first two years of Dixie League, 1964 and 1965, Madison County Seniors ages 15-17 played in the World Series traveling to Texas and Mississippi.

In the Malesus area of Madison County, Carl purchased land himself that he had cleared for two baseball fields. Youngsters used these fields for many years until the Malesus Park was built.

Today, the Dixie Youth program in Madison County has some of the finest facilities in the state with Malesus, Bourne and Young parks. Over 1,000 youngsters participate each summer.

Carl was a  basketball, baseball and football standout at Lambuth University, graduating in 1941. He makes his home in Jackson. He is married to the former Jessie Cardwell and has two sons.

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Past Distinguished Service Award Winners
1989 - Jesse Bynum 1990 - George A. Smith 1991 - Dr. G. Baker Hubbard, Sr. 1992 - Billy Pruett 1993 - Don Jordan 1994 - Bill & Brenda Earnney 1995 - Edyth Worthy 1996 - John D. Graham	1997 - Charles Farmer 1998 - Leon Pearson 1999 - Ken Hamilton 2000 -  Jack Hilliard 2001 - Bobby carter 2002 - Jack Manhein, Jr 2003 - Joe Tucker & Bob Saffel 2004 - Carl Ward