By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Members of the Tampa men’s softball team are sporting special T-shirts this season to honor the late Jim Clemmer, longtime mayor of Tampa.

Clemmer died Nov. 2. Members of the team attended the funeral wearing their ball shirts.

According to co-captain Nathan Funk, Clemmer did a lot for the ball team and made a special effort to keep the team playing in Tampa.

Clemmer’s last official act as mayor occurred a few days before he was admitted to the hospital. He appeared before the USD 397 Board of Education to advocate for the team. He sought and received the board’s approval for the ballclub to continue to enjoy a social time after games at the Tampa ballfield.

During his time as mayor, Clemmer also was instrumental in having a chain-link fence installed at the ballfield, bringing running water to the facilities, and replacing outdated toilets with a modern facility.

On June 13, Funk presented Clemmer’ wife, Mary, with one of the team’s JC T-shirts.

“This is in honor of everything Jim has done for us as a softball team,” he said.