Robert E. La Salle dedicated his life to changing the lives of children through youth sports. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and passed away on January 2, 2014. While battling cancer he continued to coach and help kids for as long as his body would allow.

Before his diagnosis, Robert was a member of the Gainesville Citizens Police Academy Alumni, a member of the Gainesville Planning & Zoning Board, president of Cooke County Soccer Association for nine years, Regional Commissioner of AYSO 1434 for five years, and spent over 18 years coaching children of various ages in soccer, baseball, and softball with CCSA, AYSO, Boys Baseball of Cooke County, and The Boys & Girls Club of Cooke County. Robert was voted the Clorox National Volunteer of the Year in 2008 by US Youth Soccer and AYSO National. Robert loved life, his family, and mentoring children.

After the land for Keneteso Park was donated, Robert aided in planning for the park and then spent a great deal of time marking fields, building and repairing goals, hanging, removing, and replacing nets, and working to try and get permanent restrooms for the park, which did eventually become a reality. Aside from coaching his two teams, he also spent time building, maintaining, stocking, and working in the concession stand, refereeing games, taking players to and from practices and games, attending tournaments, and planning summer camps. He was very passionate about the work he did and believed that allowing the kids in the community a safe and fun atmosphere to spend their time was a good way to keep them out of trouble and teach them responsibility, teamwork, accountability, and respect. If a child ever wanted to play but couldn't afford it, Robert would do everything he could to try and make sure the fees would be covered because he believed every kid deserved a chance to play. He spent most of his life on the field and it truly was his passion.

Because of these things, I believe it is appropriate to honor him by naming the fields he spent so much of his life on, forming lifelong friendships, and changing lives, after him. 

So far, I have received positive responses from the city officials I've spoken with, but I'd like to show them the community supports this decision as well.