William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ(CNBNews)(April 23, 2026)–The Gloucester City Little League (GCLL) will celebrate a major milestone on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., when it inducts the inaugural class into its newly created Wall of Fame. The ceremony will take place at the Johnson Boulevard and Nicholson Road complex and will honor five longtime contributors whose dedication shaped the league and the community it serves.
Inaugural Wall of Fame Class — 2026
The first class includes five individuals recognized for decades of service, leadership, and commitment to Gloucester City’s youth:
- Jerry Murphy — A respected community figure with deep ties to Gloucester City High School athletics.
- Bob Plews — Honored for his extensive service and unwavering support of the league.
- Tony Eller — Recognized for his long‑term impact on generations of young athletes.
- Dom Staiano — Remembered as one of the “great gentlemen” who helped build the foundation of GCLL.
- Jimmy Flood — Celebrated for his lasting legacy within Gloucester City sports.
THE PUBLIC IS URGED TO ATTEND.
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GCLL RECEIVES $125,000 GRANT FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS
In a significant boost for local youth baseball, GCLL announced on March 31 that it has been awarded a $125,000 capital‑improvement grant from Sweet Water Baseball Inc. of Montgomery Borough, PA.
The league was one of only four Little Leagues worldwide selected for this award.
League officials credited the success to the exceptional grant‑writing efforts of Gary and Stephen Bobo, whose work secured funding that will be used to upgrade all four fields and both the Major and Minor League clubhouses.
All improvements will begin after the 2026 season to avoid disrupting current play.
“This grant moves us closer to our dream of hosting a major Little League tournament right here in Gloucester City,” officials said.
A ceremonial check was presented in March to two league representatives, who posed with Sweet Water Baseball CEO Benedict Hastings III.
Residents with ideas for facility upgrades are encouraged to email gcllcommunications1@gmail.com.
The grant funds are being held in escrow by GCLL attorneys Maury Levi and Joseph Stewart Partners.
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EPA COMPLETES $25 MILLION CLEANUP OF WILLIAM FLYNN VETERANS SPORTS COMPLEX
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In November 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the successful cleanup and restoration of the William Flynn Veterans Sports Complex, part of the Welsbach/General Gas Mantle Superfund site in Camden County. The announcement was made during a ribbon‑cutting ceremony attended by EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck, Congressmember Robert E. Andrews, and Gloucester City Mayor William P. James.
The cleanup addressed contamination caused by the historic use of radioactive thorium in gas‑lamp manufacturing at the former Welsbach Company in Gloucester City and the General Gas Mantle facility in Camden. Thorium‑contaminated waste was used as fill throughout the area, leading to widespread soil contamination.
Cleanup by the Numbers
- 39,820 tons of radiologically contaminated soil removed
- $25 million invested in the remediation and restoration of the sports complex. Improvements included handicap‑accessible fields, new dugouts, fencing, and energy‑efficient lighting, and a indoor batting cage and lockers.
- 330 jobs created during the cleanup
The complex now features three baseball fields, a football practice field, and expanded parking. During the cleanup, EPA worked with city officials and local sports programs to create temporary fields near Johnson Boulevard to ensure youth sports could continue.
- EPA also removed contaminated soil from the nearby Gloucester City Land Preserve, completing another major step in the long‑term Superfund remediation.
History of the Gloucester City Little League
The Gloucester City Little League was founded in 1951, becoming one of South Jersey’s earliest organized youth baseball programs. What began as a small, volunteer‑driven effort quickly grew into a central part of community life, giving generations of local children their first experience with team sports, competition, and neighborhood pride.
In its early years, the league relied on makeshift fields, donated equipment, and the determination of parents, coaches, and civic leaders who believed Gloucester City deserved a first‑class youth baseball program. By the 1960s and 1970s, the league expanded to multiple divisions, added formalized schedules, and began hosting city‑wide events that became annual traditions.
The construction and later improvement of the Johnson Boulevard and Nicholson Road complexes marked a turning point, giving the league permanent, well‑maintained facilities that could support hundreds of players each season. Over the decades, thousands of Gloucester City families have passed through the program — many returning later as coaches, volunteers, and board members.
Today, more than 70 years after its founding, the Gloucester City Little League remains one of the city’s most enduring institutions. Its mission has stayed the same since 1951:
to teach the game of baseball, build character, and strengthen the community — one season at a time.
Was hoping for the man who was responsible for all the nite games at Hudson and Nicholson. Ed Lott had PECO Donate all the material and He along with Bernie Houlihan spent many hours doing the work, making the field second to none in the state. Please consider these guys along with Bill Matt and Tom O’ Donnell.
Hello Michael,
I remember your dad and mom very well — they were truly great people. After he retired from PECO, your father opened Gloucester Travel, and he poured the same energy and kindness into that business that he brought to everything else he touched.
He also coached my son, who played second base. I’ll never forget one game when my son misjudged a fly ball and it hit him on the head. He went down hard. Your dad was at his side immediately, making sure he was okay. On his way back to the dugout, he stopped to reassure Connie and me that our boy was fine. That was the kind of man he was — steady, caring, and always looking out for the kids.
I can still picture your father and Bernie working on the Little League field, even on those brutal days when it was 90 degrees in the shade. He and the others you mentioned absolutely deserve to be honored.
When the Gloucester City Little League first started in 1951, the men who coached the kids were just as dedicated. Many of them worked long days at the Shipyard, then headed straight to the field to improve it for the players. Every year they held a picnic for the kids at Lake Garrison in Elmer, NJ. Those same men paid out of their own pockets for the hot dogs, hamburgers, birch beer, and even the entrance fees to the lake for every player.
Baile Hertington, Bill Flynn, Jim Wachter, Dick Miller, and others whose names escape me at the moment — they were the foundation of what the Gloucester City Little League has become. Their hard work and generosity built a tradition that still stands today.