BLAINE, Minn. – (Oct. 13, 2016) – When Sam Gerrety began he was as green as the grass he painted. Two decades later he is as much a fixture as the field he paints.
“I got started with it because my youngest son was a football coach and I had Fridays off,” said Gerrety.
It was a simple beginning. Sam began because of family as soon as he retired. Now it’s because of the family and the people he has encountered that he continues.
“These kind folks do everything and that’s the key to any program, good people and we have a bunch of good parents,” said Gerrety.
Fifteen years ago Sam’s wife Nancy joined him on Fridays and her baked treats have become legendary.
“It’s fun, and it’s fun for them to have something too. I guess that’s kind of my thing, just kind of like a thank you for coming and helping us and I don’t mind baking. It’s fun doing that, that’s it, no bid deal,” said field painter Nancy Gerrety.
Nancy’s never needed any convincing to join her husband and crew on early Friday mornings, she cherishes every minute of it.
“Why not, it’s a good cause, I love football, I love this program, I love Blaine. Our son was the head coach and he said can you help and I did and we’ve been doing it ever since and it’s wonderful. This is our fun time,” said Nancy Gerrety.
Although a mix up is coming. Even the fun times have an expiration date.
“I still have two grandsons in the program and this is their last year so this will probably be our last year working full time. We’ll come up and donate occasionally,” said Sam Gerrety.
Their legacy will not be forgotten, nor will the duties they carried for field preparation.
“Well he’s joked that I’m taking it over but I think it’s a group effort…I love helping out, it’s a good time,” said field painter Ken Downey.
Sam recently got recognition that he never looks for but it came his way.
“I had a player come up a couple weeks ago and introduced himself. I had no idea who it was and he said ‘you paint the field on Fridays,’ I says ‘yeah’, he says ‘we love it, I just wanted to tell you that,’ it means a lot. That’s the first time a player has ever said anything to me. It’s nice,” said Sam Gerrety.
Even as the time changes one message rings true with this group that had assembled because of Sam and Nancy.
“I think it’s the people and it’s the people that come out here and give their time. They are the best bunch of people. I think their is so many good people in this world that people don’t even know they are good people but we do, so many good people, and that’s probably the main thing,” said Nancy Gerrety.
And that sentiment is shared. “I know they are great people, they give a lot back to the community and this is just another opportunity to help them out and spend time with them. I love it, with the baked goods that Nancy makes and the jokes that Sam’s telling, to be honest I wouldn’t trade my Friday mornings here with them,” said Downey.
Just as the rain washes away the paint only to be reapplied, the end of a legacy is giving way for the next generation to carry on a new one. The memories of what occurred on the field will not be forgotten.
“No it’s not goodbye. It’s just a temporary disappearing act,” said Sam Gerrety.
