Glasgow residents are putting the final touches on an event designed to honor the legacy of a Negro League superstar during Labor Day weekend.
A news release says the John Donaldson Baseball Field and Statue are scheduled to be formally dedicated. at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 4.
John Wesley Donaldson was born in Glasgow on February 20, 1891. He attended Evans school- a segregated black school, where he led his school team to a number of championships. After attending George R. Smith College in Sedalia for a short time, he began to pursue his baseball career and went on to play for a number of mixed-race and all-black semi-pro teams, including the Kansas City Monarchs. Donaldson died on April 14, 1970, and was buried in Chicago’s Burr Oak Cemetery in an unmarked grave. In 2004, with contributions coming from around the country, a marker was placed at Donaldson’s grave.
In 2017, the grandson of Monnig Industries founder Bob Monnig, Jason Monnig accelerated the dream of honoring Donaldson with a local baseball field. Monnig partnered with multiple business associates and family members, creating an action plan that will culminate with the dedication ceremony. Monnig, who has a lifelong passion for baseball, also collaborated with dozens of Glasgow residents on ideas for raising money and designing the field and statue.
Monnig says there are countless individuals and businesses responsible for making the celebration possible.
Donaldson’s legacy will be honored with the dedication of a state-of-the-art field bearing his name and a life-sized statue completed late last year by renowned sculptor Kean Wu. The facility will provide a field for community teams, youth sports programs and Glasgow Public Schools.
A complete listing highlighting the many sponsors who made John Donaldson Field a reality will be recognized. For more information about the ceremony, contact Glasgow Schools’ Superintendent Sonya Fuemmeler at (660) 338-2812.