SEVERANCE TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH AT NBC TOURNEY

The crowd is excitedly waiting in eager anticipation!!! The EMT’s are in standby mode!!! The catcher is in full protective gear!!! Why all the commotion and suspense? Because Bob Severance of Beloit is getting ready to throw out the first pitch in the feature game of Thursday night’s NBC (National Baseball Congress) Tournament game in Wichita.

That’s right! Beloit’s own Bob Severance will once again throw out the first pitch at the 7:00 PM feature game of this year’s Thursday contest, July 30, just as he did last year. Bob was selected by the Area Agencies on Aging of Kansas to be honored as a participant in the Keeping Seniors in the Game program, where sixteen seniors over age 80 from around the State of Kansas are given the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at each of the feature games in the sixteen-day extravaganza. The 81^st NBC World Series happens at Wichita’s Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, which started last Friday, July 24 and will run through Saturday, August 8.

Keeping Seniors in the Game recognizes the vitality and contributions of older Kansans and raises public awareness of Area Agencies on Aging – the national network of groups that provide unbiased answers and real help to seniors and family caregivers with the goal of helping seniors stay happy and independent in their home communities.

Severance and his late wife Dorcas have five children and 28 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bob has re-married to the former Mary Ann Barstow, and she also brings four children and several grandchildren to the mix as well. Between them they could easily staff over four full baseball teams themselves! That is indeed impressive.

Severance’s favorite baseball memories include Joe DiMaggio’s playing center field with the Yankees. Now he is a big Royals fan. He truly believes in staying young by keeping active and having a sense of humor. Since retiring as the long-time president of North Central Kansas Technical College, he stays active by serving as a volunteer lifeguard at Beloit’s Wellness Center pool. He has participated in five swimming events in the Senior Olympic Games for the past seven years. He has been a member of Rotary International for almost 50 years. He is also an active member in the Methodist Church, and currently serves on the North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging’s Advisory Council. He was recently honored with the first Leadership Mitchell County Community Service Award.

Bob is truly a worthy recipient of all the awards he has received, including the honor of throwing out the first pitch. Come on out to Wichita this Thursday, July 30, at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium shortly before 7:00 PM to watch him throw his “heater” to the catcher. Enjoy the moment, Bob!!!

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA