The Rick Mote Legacy Baseball Diamonds at the Multi-Sports Complex were dedicated May 30 in his honor.
Mote worked 47 years for the city until his recent retirement and during a city council meeting last month, Parks & Recreation Manager Ryan Brewer asked that the baseball fields be named in Mote’s honor and the council agreed.
Brewer said that over almost five decades, Brewer became a cornerstone of the community who was known and respected for his hard work, kindness and willingness to do whatever is asked of him.
“It’s hard to imagine the department without him and it’s truly been an honor to work alongside Rick and we are grateful for his legacy he leaves,” Brewer said. “In recognition of Rick’s remarkable contributions and lasting impact to the community, we are naming the baseball hub here at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex The Rick Mote Legacy Baseball Diamonds. This space is home to four ball fields representing the heart of Rick’s early work with the city and the pride he took in shaping and maintaining fields for the community. Naming these fields in honor of his meaningful ways to ensure future generations understand and appreciate the legacy Rick has built throughout the nearly five decades of dedication and community service.”
According to Brewer, Mote had an extraordinary impact on the parks and recreation department and athletic facilities in the city and what he helped build have served generations of Durant athletes and residents. Brewer said he often relied on Mote’s knowledge of the history of the parks.
“Rick played a key role in preparing fields out here for the first tournament held in Durant at the complex, setting a high standard of excellence and that continues to this day,” Brewer said.
Mote thanked everyone involved with having the ball fields named after him.
“In 1978, I was 20, playing on a sandlot baseball team when a teammate, who was working for the city named David Anderson, told me about a job opening at the parks department,” Mote said. “I applied for it and got it and stayed on it for 47 years and a lot of my time was spent working on baseball and softball fields. So, again, thanks to all of the council members, bosses, employees and anybody else that had anything to do with this.”
