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Hall of Fame: Damon, Renneisen made lasting impact on Bloomington sports

Lynn Houser
·6 min read

When the idea of the Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame was first hatched in 2008, the founders wanted to make sure “The Little Guys,” those guys (and gals) behind the scenes, were not forgotten. These selfless workers would be honored as “Contributors.”

The Contributor Award winner could be someone who has a ball field named after him (Russ Carpenter, 2012; Noble Bush, 2013). It could be someone who has a city park named after them (Lloyd and Joan Olcott, 2018). It could be someone who made sure a needy kid didn’t go without a pair of sneakers (Don Shiflet, 2011). Or it could just be a man who wore many hats (George Finley, 2014). The Class of 2023 has a couple of contributors who check some of these boxes — Bud Damon and Mick Renneisen.

This Herald-Times clipping and photo captured "Bud Damon Day" in 1986.
This Herald-Times clipping and photo captured "Bud Damon Day" in 1986.

Damon passionate about youth baseball

The late great Thornton Henry “Bud” Damon was a guy who worked multiple jobs but still found time for kids.

He worked the night shift at Wetterau, served as a security guard a Monroe County Airport, drove veterans to the V.A. hospital in Indianapolis, volunteered with the Red Cross and still made time to get the Bloomington youth diamonds ready for play. Oh yes, after the games he would collect the score sheets and drop them off at the local media outlets.

It begs the question: When did the man ever sleep?

“I remember riding in the car in my pajamas while he was delivering the scores to the radio and newspaper,” daughter Carole Damon said. “I remember him coming home from work at about 6 or 7 in the morning, going to breakfast at Southside Café (also known as Smitty’s), come home, nap to noon or so, then go to the ball fields and get the games underway. Then he would come home for dinner, a little rest and go back to work at 11.”

For 32 years beginning in 1966, Damon did so much for youth baseball in Monroe County that a ball field at Winslow was later named after him, along with an annual tournament, The Bud Damon Jamboree, which still honors him to this day. He was often referred to as The Father of Bloomington youth baseball.

Youth baseball was a family affair for Bud Damon. Here he is pictured with sons Thorn (left) and J.D. (right). On his knee is daughter Carole.
Youth baseball was a family affair for Bud Damon. Here he is pictured with sons Thorn (left) and J.D. (right). On his knee is daughter Carole.

On the side, he was volunteering for the Red Cross and Veteran Association. He was a World War II vet himself. For those efforts he was presented the Golden Deeds Award by the Bloomington Exchange Club.

As Carole reflected, “I think it is fitting that a field is named after him, and they still have Bud Damon Day, even though most people don’t know his name.”

Damon passed away at age 83 in 2004. In a 1991 article written by Herald-Times columnist Mike Leonard, Damon said, “I always figured I can’t be like Eli Lilly. I can’t give ‘em a million bucks because I don’t have it. What I can do is go down to the Little League and give ’em my time.”

John Decker, left, and Mick Renneisen, both of Bloomington, go over the final statistics from one of the four games they worked Monday, the first day of the Maui Invitational Tournament in Lahaina, Hawaii.
John Decker, left, and Mick Renneisen, both of Bloomington, go over the final statistics from one of the four games they worked Monday, the first day of the Maui Invitational Tournament in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Renneisen parks and rec leader

Renneisen is one of those Man of Many Hats guys. His resume also makes folks wonder if he ever slept.

He served 40 years as an employee for the City of Bloomington, including 20 years as Director of Parks and Recreation. In that time he was instrumental in the expansion of Cascades Golf Course to 27 holes, the acquisition of Twin Lakes Sports Plex, the construction of walking trails such as the B-Line, Clear Creek and Jackson Creek and also the development of parks such as Miller-Showers, Cascade Skatepark, Olcott Community Park and Leonard Springs.

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In the meantime, he was serving as the Indiana Amateur Softball Association Commissioner (2011-19) and bringing regional, state and national softball tournaments to Bloomington. As Parks and Recreation Director he won the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence, and in 2011 was named Professional of the Year by the Indiana Parks and Recreation Association. He eventually would be inducted into the Bloomington Softball Hall of Fame, the Indiana Softball Hall of Fame and the National Softball Hall of Fame.

If that wasn’t enough, he also was courtside at Indiana University basketball games doing statistics and serving as press box announcer at IU football games. And then he went into politics.

In 2016 he accepted the position of Deputy Mayor under John Hamilton and stayed in that role for five years. Upon retirement in 2021 he received lifetime achievement awards from the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and Indiana Parks and Recreation.

“I never considered myself a person of politics,” Renneisen says. “I think Deputy Mayor is misunderstood as a political position. I saw the role as more as city manager, just keeping the trains running, making sure the mayor’s plans are executed.”

In 2000, Cascades Golf Course was expanded to 27 holes, with a big assist from Bloomington Parks and Recreation Director Mick Renneisen.
In 2000, Cascades Golf Course was expanded to 27 holes, with a big assist from Bloomington Parks and Recreation Director Mick Renneisen.

'The most rewarding part'

Renneisen got his start in Parks and Recreation in 1981, overseeing softball, basketball, volleyball, golf and youth baseball. One of the first people he met was Damon.

“Bud was very passionate about boys’ baseball and a tireless worker,” Renneisen says. “He was out there a tremendous amount of hours, way before the games started, setting up the diamonds, setting up the food stands, checking the lights, the bathrooms.”

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Renneisen's contributions to youth sports included landing national tournaments for girls’ softball and launching the Hook-a-Kid-on-Golf program in 1991, making Bloomington just one of 25 communities in the entire country to offer that program in its infancy.

“That gave us an opportunity to expose golf to kids who, because of the costs of greens fees and equipment, might not have ever taken up the sport,” Renneisen says. “I remember kids wondering if they could stand on the grass asking, ‘Is this real grass?’ It makes me smile when I see a lot of people using our facilities. That’s the most rewarding part.”

In the early 1980s Renneisen served as a color commentator on radio for high school sports alongside future Monroe County Sports Hall of Famer Joe Smith. That is where he learned how to keep statistics. It eventually opened the door for his run as a statistician and press box announcer at IU. He will begin his 41st season in football this fall.

With all the awards he has earned, being inducted into the Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame is right up there with any of them, he says.

“All of them are meaningful because they came at various stages of my life, but now all that seems like ancient history. To get recognized by your community, where you worked and tried to make a difference, it’s an honor when I put it into perspective.”

Banquet tickets on sale

The Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet will take place on Friday, July 14 at the Monroe Convention Center. A meet and greet session will begin at 5 p.m. with the reception at 6 and dinner at 6:45. The awards presentation will begin at 7:30.

Tickets are $50 and available by July 5th at monroecountyshof.org.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Hall of Fame: Damon, Renneisen made lasting impact on Bloomington sports