Resolution 2022-022 RESOLUTION NO.2022 - 22
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, NAMING THE BASEBALL FIELD AT
IMMOKALEE COMMUNITY PARK THE "STEVEN J. DODSON
MEMORIAL BASEBALL FIELD."
WHEREAS, Steven J. Dodson's love of baseball started with his Tee Ball team at the age of six,
advancing through the youth leagues through the age of 18;and
WHEREAS,Steven's love of the game took him from player to umpire,graduating from the Harry
Wendelstedt School for Umpires in the top ten of his class in 1994;and
WHEREAS, Steven umpired for over 22 years in Little League, high school, collegiate, semi-
professional, and professional baseball games, during these years visiting over 20 Major League Baseball
stadiums; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Dodson, as he was known in his professional life, served for over 20 years
with the Collier County Sheriffs Office,nearly all of which in the Immokalee Patrol District where,being
fluent in Spanish,he called bilingual balls and strikes when off duty in the evenings and on weekends;and
WHEREAS,on August 7,2017,shortly after completing his shift in which he conducted multiple
traffic stops and responded to several community calls for service, Sergeant Dodson suffered a fatal heart
attack which was determined by the U.S.Department of Justice to be in the line of duty;and
WHEREAS, in 2019, Sergeant Dodson's name was added to the Memorial Wall for the Collier
County Sheriff's Office, in 2021, the Law Enforcement Memorial Walls in Tallahassee and Washington,
D.C., and the Greater Naples Officials' Association now has an annual "Steven Dodson Excellence in
Umpiring"award; it is fitting and proper that a baseball field bear his name in the patrol district where he
served and protected the community and provided countless hours officiating America's pastime.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, in honor of Sergeant Dodson's sacrifice to Collier County, his
commitment to the Immokalee community, and his dedication to the game he loved,to name the baseball
field at Immokalee Community Park the"Steven J.Dodson Memorial Baseball Field"and to direct staff to
install appropriate signage thereon.
THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTED after motion, second and majority vote on this the 25th day of
January,2022.
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ATTEST: - . BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CRYSTAL K1yKTNZBL,.Clerk COLLIER CO ' LORIDA
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By: ..A
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Af tSt q.•1 •• • Wyk Wil;: L. McDaniel,Jr., Cha•rman
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Jeffrey u. .tzkow
County i
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