ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / September 27, 1999

GARYVILLE – Eighty-three children living in the Garyville Oaks Development Community got much-needed school supplies Wednesday afternoon, thanks to local sports hero Tommy “Stone” Pittman Jr. TheGaryville Oaks Community Center was filled with the sounds of excited children as the former East St. John High School athlete, who now playswith the Montreal Expos Class A farm team, the Cape Fear Expos, donated time and money to hand out paper, notebooks and pencils.

“Giving back to the community gives me a lot of pleasure,” said the pro ball player and former resident of Garyville Oaks. “I plan to do this a lot.”Before handing out the school supplies, Pittman lectured the children on the importance of a good education.

“The most important thing in your life is education,” Pittman told the kids. “Even if you want to be a baseball player like me, you have to go toschool.

“If you’re not in school, you should be. I’ve been to school, and I did havesome hard times, but basically, school is a lot of fun.”Pittman then asked the children what they wanted to be when they grow up. Most of the boys answered that they wanted to be baseball players likePittman.

The event was sponsored by the Adopt-A-Star Foundation, an organization started in 1998 by St. John Parish Resident Council President Ron C.James.

“The Adopt-A-Star Foundations’s goal is to make sure each child develops to his or her full potential with the assistance of parents, teachers and the community,” said James. “We need parent participation andcooperation to help instill the idea that education is very important to everyone.”Pittman’s parents, who were also at the giveaway, stressed how education helped Pittman’s career.

“If it wasn’t for school,” said Pittman’s mother, “he would not have received a $30,000 scholarship to Auburn University.” Pittman received a football scholarship offer from Auburn after his senior season with the East St. John Wildcats, but opted for professionalbaseball when he was drafted.

And even though she approves of Pittman’s baseball career, Pittman’s mother hopes that eventually he will continue his education and go to Auburn.

When asked about this later, Pittman smiled and said, “Well, I’ve given it a lot of thought, but baseball is my real love, and I’m hopeful that I’ll make it to the big leagues.”After the talk by the Pittman family the children obediently put up the chairs and lined up at a table stacked high with school supplies.

Pittman then autographed every notebook he handed out to a child. Severalchildren brought baseballs for him to sign, and he obliged with a big smile.

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