A sporting good award

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- His youngest grandson graduated from Costa Mesa High School

in June, but that hasn’t stopped Ed Baume from continuing to volunteer in

the youth sports programs there.

He’s up at 5:30 a.m. making wake-up calls to all the kids who didn’t make

it to early morning football practice. He still takes statistics at

games. He also has donated countless hours to reading bingo numbers off

of little white plastic balls.

His work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Baume is being honored at tonight’s City

Council meeting with a Mayor’s Award for his volunteer work in the

community.

“This guy has been there helping at Costa Mesa High School since his kids

were there,” said School Board member Jim Ferryman, who nominated Baume

for the honor. “They’re probably in their 40s now. This is one of the

true unsung heroes that is just totally unselfish.”

Baume, who’s retired from the Army and the National Guard, began his

involvement in youth sports three decades ago when his two sons, Steve

and Gary, were in harbor area baseball, the predecessor to modern Little

League.

He also supported Junior All-American Football, Costa Mesa High School

baseball and Costa Mesa Pop Warner Football. His passion for supporting

youth can be traced back to his early work as an executive with the Boy

Scouts of America.

“I don’t care if kids are winning or losing, parents should be out there

supporting them,” Baume said. “When I was with the Boy Scouts I used to

say ‘Your sons are only going to be 8, 9 or 10 once. If you don’t

participate you’re going to miss out.’ ”

Baume, married for nearly 50 years to his wife Noreen, centers his life

around his family, said his son Gary.

“He has always been there,” Gary said. “It shows that he cares and that

he has a sincere desire to show that he wants to be a part of our lives.”

Baume’s other involvements include membership in the Costa Mesa American

Legion, the Free & Accepted Masons of California, the Advisory Committee

to the Mesa Consolidated Water District and the Costa Mesa Historical

Society.

But Baume’s first love has always been youth sports.

“I never got over being a jock I guess,” Baume said.

Nominations for the Costa Mesa Mayor’s Award are accepted on an ongoing

basis. If you know someone who has performed an outstanding act, service

or good deed, contact City Hall.