Jerry Lasiter brings out basketballs before a 2004 game at Whiteland High School, as he had for 40 years.
Daily Journal file photo
The Whiteland community plans to celebrate a man known as Whiteland’s No. 1 fan this weekend.
The Clark-Pleasant Education Foundation created a scholarship in Jerry Lasiter’s name earlier this year, recognizing the legacy of an alumnus who became synonymous with athletics and the town of Whiteland.
The 76-year-old has been involved with school athletics since he began riding Whiteland Community High School team buses in 1967, the same year he was an honorary graduate of the school. Lasiter now lives in Kentucky, but for decades he was a fixture at WCHS sporting events and an honorary member of the football, track and field, wrestling and basketball teams. For 40 years, Lasiter brought out a rack of basketballs for home games. He rode the team bus for baseball games and helped escort referees on and off the field during football games.
During a span of about 30 years, from around 1972 to around 2002, Lasiter missed just one Whiteland high school basketball game, said Butch Zike, a school board member who served as a longtime athletic director at the school.
Lasiter was not just present, but an integral part of the athletic experience, said Dave McMillan, a longtime friend of Lasiter’s.
On Friday, community members will raise money for the Jerry Lasiter scholarship and on Saturday, he’ll be recognized with an award for his service to the community.
Dine-to-Donate Tailgate
Lasiter will make his return to Whiteland for Friday’s Warriors football game versus Decatur Central. He’ll make his first public appearance of the weekend at a dine-to-donate tailgate set to take place near the high school tennis courts from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m., with Whiteland restaurant Whit’s Inn selling meals. Proceeds from the meals will go toward funding the Jerry Lasiter Scholarship, said David Edens, WCHS athletic director.
The Clark-Pleasant Education Foundation has already raised about $8,000 for the scholarship fund, but hopes to make significant headway toward their $100,000 goal with the tailgate. Each year, one WCHS student will take home the $1,000-a-year college scholarship, with special consideration given to students who want to pursue a career in special education, students who have given back to their communities and students who are living with a disability, McMillan said.
During the tailgate, there will be sign-ups for a Sept. 23 pickleball tournament at the WCHS tennis courts. The foundation will use some of the money to pay for the costs of holding the tournament, but most of it will go toward the scholarship fund, said Jenny Zahm, executive director.
People can also donate by registering for the Oct. 7 Fit at the Farm 5K Run/Walk at Kelsay Farms and selecting “Jerry’s Team” on the registration page will also have a portion of their registration fund go toward the scholarships.
If the education foundation reaches its $100,000 goal, the Jerry Lasiter Scholarship will be funded in perpetuity, as the interest from the fund will be enough to pay for a new scholarship each year, she said.
“The biggest thing is, Jerry doesn’t have any kids, so the main concern is keeping his memory and legacy alive at the school after he’s gone,” Zahm said. “He’s had a really great Warrior spirit. … You don’t want people to forget the people who supported the community throughout the years.”
Pre-game honors
Clark-Pleasant schools will also honor Lasiter on the field before the game. Lasiter will enter the stadium at around 6:30 p.m. About 20 minutes later, he’ll help with the pre-game coin toss as the honorary captain before volunteers pass buckets around the stands to collect donations for the scholarship fund.
Lasiter will watch the game from the southwest corner of the track that surrounds the field, the same place he used to sit during games he worked helping referees. Joining him will be McMillan, who worked alongside him.
“During the football season, Jerry and I were responsible for taking care of the referees at the football games. We would meet the refs, show them where to get dressed, escort them on and off the field at halftime and after the game,” McMillan said. “Jerry was the first to introduce himself and shake their hands and welcome them to Whiteland. I’ve never been around someone who was so committed and so devoted to his school.”
Honoring Lasiter is a way to keep his contributions to Whiteland athletics alive, said David Edens, Whiteland’s athletics director. Personally, Edens first met Lasiter when he was a five-year-old playing Little League baseball.
“We are recognizing the love Jerry had for Whiteland and Whiteland had for Jerry, recognizing that Jerry’s name won’t be forgotten,” Edens said. “Every year, someone is going to get this scholarship and we’ll talk about who Jerry was. Someone will benefit from now until the end of time. When the whole generation who grew up with Jerry moves on, he won’t be forgotten, which is so important.”
Enduring Service Award
Lasiter will also receive the Enduring Service Award during a ceremony 10 a.m. on Saturday at Jessen Funeral Home in Whiteland. The award, which notes Lasiter as Whiteland’s No. 1 Fan, recognizes servants to the community, said Don Sanders, the funeral home’s chaplain and comptroller.
Funeral Director and General Manager Capri Williams will present Lasiter with the award, and Zahm will also be in attendance. Jessen Funeral Home will make a $200 donation to the scholarship fund, Sanders said.
“We wanted to choose someone who had a servant’s heart and willingness to serve the community, and we felt Jerry fits that to a tee,” he said. “I think he’s the spirit of Whiteland. He’s what personifies the sense of family and community we have here. He has such a giving heart. He was all about encouraging the coaches and boys and girls on different teams and making sure he was there and showing his love for the game.”
Lasiter is fully deserving of all the love and recognition he will receive this weekend, McMillan said.
“I want people to know there’s no one more deserving than Jerry Lasiter to be honored this way,” he said. “There won’t be another person who is such a super fan and is so dedicated to his community as Jerry is. He’s a special person. I’m very, very happy that people have taken the time to recognize Jerry the way he should be.”
For more information on this weekend’s events and to donate to the Jerry Lasiter Scholarship fund, visit clarkpleasanteducationfoundation.org.
