Councilors endorse naming softball diamonds in honor of sports editor

Acclaimed sports editor Ted Beare, whose career at The Expositor spanned more than 40 years, will be recognized by naming, in his honour, the softball diamonds at the Steve Brown Sports Complex at Lions Park.

Councilors unanimously approved a resolution, introduced by Coun. Dan McCreary, to name the playing areas the Ted Beare Softball Diamonds. Final approval is required at a council meeting later this month.

Beare was previously honored with a ball diamond in his name at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Center but McCreary said “that naming right was extinguished some 10 years ago” when the center was renovated.

Brantford-born Beare grew up playing sports and set his sights early on a career in sports journalism. He joined The Expositor newsroom in 1950 as a general news reporter and assistant to the sports editor. Three years later he was promoted to sports editor.

Beare’s sports column “The Beare Facts” was immediately popular with readers.

“He was a gifted writer whose turns of phrase and witticisms could make his readers chuckle,” said McCreary’s resolution.

During his time at paper – Beare retired in 1992 – “he was witness to almost every major sports event in Brantford and area and took great pride in informing Expositor readers about the accomplishments of local athletes.”

“Ted’s body of work chronicled all that was newsworthy, from the accomplishments of youngster just starting out in house league play, to athletes who played in major leagues or competed in Olympics.”

Beare was the winner of four Western Ontario Newspaper Awards; a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125^th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in recognition of his contributions to the community; was inducted as a member of the honor roll in the Builder category of the Sports Hall of Recognition; and received an Award of Merit from the Walter Gretzky CNIB Celebrity Golf Classic.

After his retirement, Beare wrote two books – Brantford: Sports City; and My Mother the Bookie. He continued to write on a freelance basis for The Expositor until his death in 2011 at the age of 82.

Up to $5,000 will be taken from the council priorities fund to pay for the installation of new signs at the Ted Beare Softball Diamonds before the end of the year. An event to coincide with the occasion will also be covered by the fund up to $2,500.

“It’s kind of embarrassing it took us this long to get to this point,” said Coun. John Sless. “I hold Mr. Beare in the same esteem as (Arnold) Anderson. I think they were just pillars in our community that the sporting community was built upon.

“They were just stellar gentlemen and stellar boosters of minor sport.”