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On Feb. 5, the Demopolis High School (DHS) baseball team held a special recognition event to honor the late Bobby Jackson. Jackson passed away in July 2023.

Jackson was a DHS graduate and had a huge love for baseball. He was a pitcher for Demopolis when he was in high school and he also played third base.

The recognition event took place at the DHS baseball field where memorials were given to the DHS baseball team by Jackson’s wife, Ann Pruitt Jackson. The memorials included a yearbook, a signed baseball and photos.

Arthur Evans, a long-time friend to Jackson, spoke about his friend and described his love of baseball and his love for Demopolis baseball. Evans said that Jackson was the one who got him interested in the sport.

“Baseball really was his passion and you could tell that from day one. Bobby had a unique thing about the College World Series,” said Evans. “He had a record of 21 straight years of going to the College World Series in Omaha. It was fantastic.”

Evans said that the current Demopolis baseball team was in a unique position and that they would one day look back on their time on the team and remember it fondly.

“You’ll remember these days. You’ll remember these days as some of the best days you’ll ever experience,” said Evans. “The question is whether or not every day you’re putting in the effort to make yourself better, individually and as a teammate. Build those relationships among yourselves so that you can be a better team together and you leave it out there on the field. Hopefully you can look back and have no regrets.”

Evans pointed out that character means a lot, especially to teams who rely on each other to make good impressions. Evans said that what character means to him is what people see in a person when that person doesn’t think they’re being watched.

“Character means you’re kind, caring, considerate and loyal. Bobby Jackson was that way,” said Evans. “Bobby would be especially proud to know this outpouring of love for him in this town. Because he cared so much about baseball.”

Jackson’s wife, Ann, said that she knows her late husband will be cheering on the Tigers through their 2024 baseball season.

“He’s going to be an angel watching over you all,” said Ann.

Baseball coach James Moody also spoke about Jackson’s love for baseball and how he always wanted to see the players coached correctly and positively. 

“He would show up to our games and you would never know he was there. And he never missed a game in Omaha,” said Moody. “He left a legacy in this town and in baseball.”

Moody also thanked Ann and Jackson’s sisters for what they have done and what they have given to the baseball program.

“It means a lot to us that you and Mr. Bobby’s sisters thought enough to do this for us. It is an outstanding show of love to us as a program,” said Moody. 

The Demopolis baseball team honored the late Bobby Jackson with a special ceremony on Feb. 5. Memorabilia that belonged to Jackson was given to the baseball team. Photo by Andrea Burroughs.