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Decades dedicated to baseball send Roy Burns to HoF

Ernest Roy Burns was born Oct. 12, 1913 and was raised on the family farm at Flintoft Plessis. He took his schooling at Plessis, then spent the next few years working on farms until taking over the family farm in 1954.

Ernest Roy Burns was born Oct. 12, 1913 and was raised on the family farm at Flintoft Plessis. He took his schooling at Plessis, then spent the next few years working on farms until taking over the family farm in 1954.

As a sports minded youth, competing in school sports and rallies, Burns started playing baseball with Fir Mountain in 1948 at the age of 15. He played 13 years with Fir Mountain, three years with Wood Mountain and several years with Flintoft.

He continued playing baseball until his son was old enough to play, then became coach for Wood Mountain eight to 10 year olds. Burns coached minor baseball for eight years and later went on to coach or manage baseball teams for a total of 23 years.

In 1978 Burns began his twilite division baseball with Flintoft, taking over the duties of manager of the team, due to the untimely death of John Yorga. Burns spent more than 30 years involved in the twilite division.

The year 1996 was a memorable year for Burns, as he was asked by the Spy Hill Twilite team to go to Phoenix, Ariz. for a baseball tournament. This was a great experience and one he will never forget.

Although baseball was Burns' first love, he enjoyed and also excelled in curling and bowling, winning trophies in both.

A community minded individual Burns was a municipal councillor for six years and was involved with 4H, curling, bowling, the Rec Board, school and church organizations. Burns was also active as a member of the Legion.

Burns and his wife Anne have two children and four grandchildren.

Roy Burns will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame at the 27th annual induction Aug. 20.

Joining Burns will be the late Anton Belous, Wally Blaisdell, the late Hugh Carr, Don Dupuis, the late William Erhardt, the late Walter Harasen, Lyle Johnson, Rick Morrice,

Larry Orth, the late Ed Stefureak, Ken Townsend, the Kindersley Klippers, the Lashburn Linnets/Cardinals, the Biensch family and the community of Wilkie.