August 18, 2021 Issue, Page 10 of 10

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10 Community August 18, 2021 Elk City baseball fans celebrate the life of Charlie Joy Joy is known to have been the oldest living baller to have played at Elk City Ackley Park's famed red-brick baseball stadium to him for hours. Charlie was in- Elk City that he helped start that volved in baseball at an early age they are impossible to list. But, I in the Shortgrass League, which can tell you this — Elk City was is legendary now. He was an avid lucky to have him. I know that I Yankee baseball memorabilia col- sure was," Trotter gushed. lector. Going through his stuff Though Trotter usually is a die- was like a walk through history, hard Sox fan, he gladly sported and Charlie knew the history be- the Yankee blue to honor his hind every piece," Trotter said. friend Charlie. Though baseball was their com- Trotter opened his shop in 2008 mon bond, Trotter also noted that and has serviced many Elk City Joy's civic contributions went far legends along the way — guys like beyond sports. Orville Word, who will forever be “Everything that Charlie became remembered in Elk City's collec- a part of blossomed. He was part tive conscious. of the original group that started Of Joy, though, Trotter said that Christmas in the Park. There is he got the best advice as a baseball no telling how much money that parent. has brought to the town through “As Max got older and the travel baseball was becoming a bigger the decades. I can absolutely tell you that there are people who thing, Charlie said, ‘Don't forget come into my shop once a year to let him be a kid.’ Charlie had when they are going through wisdom that can only be earned the park and get haircuts. Now, through a life well-lived. I'll carry that doesn't equate to a lot of what he taught me with me for money for my own business, but the rest of my life," Trotter said. these folks are spreading that out ‘As the baseball playoffs loom on While sitting in the barber's chair, Charlie Joy taught Matt Trotter many life lessons; Through decades of friendship, Matt Trotter held a through the town. They are eating the horizon, Trotter will miss tremendous respect for the elder baseball enthusist. Before attending Charlie Joy’s funeral service, Trotter even joked that Joy was the in our restaurants, staying in our evaluating players and games with only person for whom he would wear the Yankee’s. Courtesy photos. hotels and shopping at our stores. Joy. ‘They are filling their cars up with "You remember in ‘The Sandlot’ gas while they are here. When you when Babe Ruth's ghost said, 'He- By Shonda Little them. baseball, but no matter how hard Jook better than me." add all that up, it is huge for our roes get remembered, but legends Joy was born in 1931 and died in I tried, I could never get him to Trotter's son Max is an active local economy. I get a few hair- never die?" Trotter asked. "Well, As Oklahoma Mudcat's head Elk City on August 9 at 90-years- see the light and come yell for the baseball player. Trotter is quick to cuts, but the people who visit are Charlie was a legend in this shop. coach Brian LeGrand scrambled old. Sox." admit that he regularly asked Joy also supporting my customers’ ‘As long as my doors are opened, to put together his annual Arnold His obituary states that he joined Trotter graduated from Elk City for parenting advice, particularly businesses. It is a boom for our Til be talking about him to the Lankford Classic, he searched for his wife of over 60 years, Carolyn, High School in 2001. During that in helping to coach him to his full local tax base during Christmas youngsters that come in. We the oldest living person to have who passed away in 2012. time, he played proudly for Elk baseball potential. in the Park. Well, Charlie's finger- should all be so fortunate to have played at the iconic ball field. "Charlie will be remembered as City Elk, often being coached by "When Max was younger, Charlie prints are all over the origin of someone like Charlie Joy walk After all, in its early heyday as a a gentleman — polite, respect- Joy's son Joe. ‘was great about sitting and talking that. There are so many things in into their lives.” premier stadium on Route 66, the ful, gracious, and modest. He en- "Charlie was like a surrogate field hosted many future legends. gaged, encourage, and enfolded As Americans fell in love with the those around him, always and in grandparent to us all. He loved the sport, but he also loved see- [WWW.EIkCityRodeo.com automobile, the "Mother Road" all ways,” the obituary stated. ing young people do well. He was became as American as blue and Among those that will forever a businessman in Elk City for a apple pie and baseball. Each city hold these fond memories is Matt long time. He gave me invaluable along the thoroughfare competed Trotter, owner of Matt's Barber advice on everything — baseball, for the prime athletes in hopes of Shop on the corner of Main Street business, being a parent. Some- drawing local crowds and tourists and Third Street in Elk City. how, he knew how to make all alike. To those familiar with Trotter's those things overlap. Some people Because of that, under the bright shop, baseball is known as the might not think that a man in his lights there at Ackley, names for- biggest passion of the business. A 30s would have a lot in common ever etched in baseball history good haircut is a close second. with a man in his 80s or 90s, but graced the dugouts and field. "Baseball is what we do here," I never saw Charlie when we ran Though Charles Joseph (Gioia) ‘Trotter laughed. "You can see it ‘out of words to say. If he knew you Joy's name won't isn't etched in right there on our logo. Every and liked you, you knew it," Trot- Cooperstown, to generations of year, we look forward to Opening ter explained. ELK CITY Elk City baseball players and fans, Day and talking trash throughout As a gentleman, Charlie was BOM Mud * Bank of WesternOK * Boomtown Gril he is a hall of famer in their books. the season. Everyone who knows known for keeping his hair high Canjon Oifeld Services » City of Ek ity * Culver Electric Joy was of Italian descent, and me or has even been in the shop and tight. Doug Gray Dodge « Dr. Pepper Botting Co, * Edward Jones Bk Gty ACE Home Center * Ek City Chamber of Commerce the family surname was anglicized knows that I am a Red Sox fan. "Oh, he kept his hair pristine, Farm Credit of Western OK « First National Bank RODEO. from Gioia to Joy. ‘And everyone who knew Charlie which meant we saw him a lot," Fst Construction + Fred's Steakhouse + Galleria Fumiture Outlet To the generations of his local knew that he bled that Yankee Trotter laughed. "As soon as he Great Pains Analytical Services + Great Plains Bank blue, The man probably knew ev- Gieat Pains Regional Medical C+ Huteh's CStores « Hutton nc. fans, the name made sense. would sit in that chair, I would ‘Donna's Wine & Spints + Lucky Star Casino + O'Reilly Auto Parts After all, joy is what he brought to erything there was to know about want to put that Red Sox cape on PrairieFite Gril + Price Farms + Rother Bros. Inc. + Sonic Driven him. It didn't matter what kind of day I was having when Charlie Smith Mechanical » Smith Te & Closing » Sparkight Terry's Furniture Showroom OF CHAMPIONS © walked in. As soon as he was there, For more info: 405.317.7161 — ELKCITY,OK — Insurance Services SEPT. 3-4-5 it would get better. I always knew thatI was going to be in fora good Tickets go on sale Aug. 30 conversation. After I would finish . at the arena ticket office and Office (ISO) has his cut, I would bring out the mir- ror, and he would joke that I could 2 af at Circle A Western Wear 8 P.M. NIGHTLY Parade September 4° 10am 4 do better next time. And then issued the City of I would joke back, ‘Charlie, you know nobody is gonna make you Downtown Elk City, OK Elk City anISO Be Sure to Register Before 10 a.m. to Be Eligible for the Grand Prize Drawings! Make Plans to Attend rating of 2 Northfork Electric Cooperati How does my ISO fire rating proximity to a fire station or fire impact insurance rates? hydrant, as well as whether you ‘The formulas homeowners insur- have a fire alarm or sprinkler ance companies use to determine system. And some insurers do not their insurance rates are complex use ISO's score to set homeown- HM Touchstone Energy* Cooperatives and constantly changing. But The per of onan comets” ers premiums at all. Instead, they all other things being equal, a lower PPC score for your area may use their own metrics based on translate to a lower homeowners factors like historical fire data. It insurance premium, as it means may be beneficial to contact your your home is at a lower risk insurance agent and ask about the for serious fire damage. Home benefits of a lower score. insurance companies offer lower ‘The Elk City Fire and EMS De- rates if you have a good ISO rat- partment would like to thank the ing because a well-prepared fire Sponsored by City of Elk City and its citizens Lindley Farm department should be able to put for the support that gives our Western swing band ‘Sons of the Sage’ out a house fire more quickly. Equipment members the training and equip- will provide entertainment for the event! However, how your rating im- ment required to obtain this Free swimming & mini golf pacts your homeowners insur- score. sponsored by R&R Powerline ance premium varies by insurer, andit's often only one of many Respectfully, factors it considers with regards Kyle Chervenka * If you would like to have a booth at the vendor fair, hosted by the Sayre Chamber of Commerce in to fire safety. For example, some Chief - Elk City Fire and EMS conjunction with the annual meeting, call 580-928-3386 or email [email protected]. companies ask about your home's Department