The Elton Goodwin Memorial Foundation and Scholarship Fund website is now up and running.

Read the mission statement find information about the foundation and scholarships that recognizes the late, great South Kitsap baseball coach Elton Goodwin.

Find out how to make donations or buy merchandise.

The goals of the foundation, as stated on the website:

Goals

In a few short months we have accomplished several of our initial objectives that will help preserve Elton’s legacy. Retiring his #29 jersey, and having the baseball field renamed “Elton Goodwin Memorial Field” are wonderful tributes, however our work has just begun. In May we presented the first of two annual Elton Goodwin Scholarships; providing $2000.00 for deserving South Kitsap students, and athletes. With that milestone now in place, we turn attention towards the second goal of our Foundation; “providing safe access to quality sports facilities for the youth of our community”.

The baseball field at South Kitsap was Elton’s second home; and now that it bears his name, is in line for a facelift. Currently, we are working closely with the high school, and district school board to procure a new electronic scoreboard for the baseball field, and are hopeful to have it in place for next season. Pending school board approval, future plans also include a commemorative brick memorial celebrating the accomplishments of the nearly 100 year old South Kitsap Baseball program. Commemorative bricks will be available for purchase and engraving.

Although lofty, we feel that through close coordination with the school district, high school, and City of Port Orchard, these goals are attainable; and would be in accordance with Elton’s wishes. While some of these objectives will require longer term financing strategies, we remain confident in our ability to make a substantial and sustainable difference in our community.

Please stay tuned for more information on these, and other projects as we move towards the 2014/15 school year; but in the meantime we could always use your financial support. We have created multiple options by which you may contribute; all of which are a 100% tax deductible.

Here’s Elton Goodwin’s obituary as submitted by his family.

Elton Goodwin’s memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the South Kitsap gym.

The legendary South Kitsap baseball coach died on Thursday. He had successful hip-replacement surgery on Wednesday, and died of a heart attack the next day.

Elton had a history of heart disease, having two stents inserted a few years back.

I still can’t believe Elton Goodwin’s dead. His heart, of all hearts, finally gave out. He was 63.

Almost a year ago, when I was still the sports editor of The Sun, I wrote a Thanksgiving-themed column about sports figures we are thankful for. Elton was on the list. Here’s what I wrote:

Elton Goodwin: Considering how thankful I am to know this guy, I’m jealous of all of his former players who got to spend so much time with him. He’s the best high school coach I’ve ever been around. The unique character who coached South Kitsap to three state baseball titles has been retired since 2003, so it was great to hear his voice when, out of the blue, he called on Wednesday to tell me that he just received his first social security check. Others were getting the same call and Goodwin was belly-laughing the whole way. Junior high players at Sedgwick Junior High are going to be the next lucky ones. Yep, Goodwin’s agreed to assist Kevin Dorsey, a former South player, this spring.

I’m still burning wood that Elton delivered to our house in Illahee. He parked that damn truck and had the thing unloaded before I could get there and give him a hand. He loved that stuff, splitting wood, hauling it, stacking it, burning it.

Kevin Dorsey was among those I talked to for the story about Goodwin’s death that ran in Saturday’s editions of The Sun. I also talked to Eric Canton, who was having a difficult time. He was sitting in the third-base dugout at South’s baseball field when he picked up his cell phone. In case you missed the story, here it is.

And, remember, the memorial for a special guy who meant so much to so many is Saturday, 11 a.m., at the South Kitsap gym.

The news is really sad today.

Elton Goodwin died Thursday night around 10 p.m. He underwent hip replacement surgery and reportedly died of a heart attack at the hospital the following day. He was 63.

I still can’t believe it.

His record coaching baseball at South Kitsap spoke for itself, but Elton won’t be remembered for the three state championships and all those victories or for sending countless players to college and professional baseball. Elton will be remembered for being the person that he was.

Eric Canton, current South Kitsap football coach, was one of the many individuals impacted by Elton.

When I reached Canton this morning, he was sitting alone in the third-base dugout at the Wolves’ baseball field.

“He calls me every Thursday or Friday to chew me out,” Canton said. “First he’d chew me out, then he tells me he loves me.”

I’m supposed to write his obit for The Sun, and it’s going to be tough. They say there’s no crying in baseball, but I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes dry right now.

I’m going to talk to some more of Elton’s former players and colleagues. You’ll find the story online later tonight and in the print editions on Saturday.

In the meantime, here’s a part of a story that I wrote about Goodwin in 2003, the year he retired from coaching:

Keeping It Real

If you’ve followed this story at all, you know that it reeks of tears, emotions and the win-one-for-the-coach storyline. You’re familiar with “Track it, frame it!” and a million other things that the ultra-hyper Goodwin shouts during games. You know about “The Beast,” the 1971 Ford truck he drives and his passion for cutting wood, fishing and hunting. You know about all the ex-Wolves who’ve gone on to play professional and college baseball.

Most of all, you should know that there’s nothing phony about Goodwin, whose desire and dedication overflows to his players. What you see is what you get: a highly colorful, down-to-earth guy who won 491 games and three state titles in 28 years as a head coach.

He’s a 52-year-old throwback with a tremendous passion for the game. He demands that his players work as hard as he and his assistants Don Smith and Jim Fairweather, yet he allows them to be themselves.

On the bus ride home after winning the state title, center-fielder Cody McCulley might have come up with the line of the year when the Port Orchard Police escorted them into town: “Here we are in the meth capital of the United States; you’d think they’d have something better to do.”

There are a lot of laughs when you’re around the South Kitsap baseball team.

The players aren’t afraid to be human. It’s a reflection of the program that Goodwin, a 1969 SK grad, has built.

“It’s a key to winning,” Goodwin said. “You have to have fun. You have to laugh. You have to let the kids know they’re OK when you say something.

“When we’re in between the lines, they’re playing. When I’m coaching, I’m coaching. But when it’s time to giggle and laugh, that’s OK. That’s what makes team. That’s what makes us come together.”

Goodwin’s been known to tell some funny stories and deliver some funny lines, too.

“It’s good to let them know that I’m on their level,” he said. “At the same time, you need to be a coach who has high standards. My guys know when I’m pissed. They know when to shut up. Just like (his twin sons) Jeff and Joel. They know when to back off.

“I coach like a parent. Enough is enough. You better get it going or your ass is sitting. Sometimes it’s my look. They know not to mess with me.”