Gladue tournament a tribute to a good man

Page 7

The Archie Gladue Memorial Fastball Tournament in Lac La Biche was held June 28 to 29. The tournament included men's and ladies divisions with cash prizes for first, second and third place in both.

A karaoke system was hooked up for the brave souls who wanted to belt out a tune or two on the ball grounds, and a free steak dinner was served up at the local tavern, all a part of the commemoration of an important man who contributed to the community.

Chief Al Lameman, the brother-in-law of the late Archie Gladue who died in a motor vehicle accident, said Gladue was a business man who employed people from the communities of Lac La Biche and the Beaver Lake First Nation.

"He was a good man. He helped a lot of people around here, so the communities wanted to put this memorial on for four years because Archie used to love baseball."

Joann Lameman, the organizer of the tournament, said that there were about 700 people who attended the tournament over the course of two days. She estimates that the fourth and last memorial will be a lot bigger.

She said that the committee is presently working to make that last tournament something special with whatever money raised going to some of the graduates of the Beaver Lake First Nation.

"We just have different ideas that we are toying around with, but it will definitely be something that will benefit the youth," she said.

"I'm honored to play in this memorial that is set up for Archie, because this was a sport he loved," said Peter Powder from Fort McMurray. "He was the owner of the Lassoo Golden Eagles and they won the Canadians."

Gladue was born in Janvier in northern Alberta and was 61 years old when he died in 2000.