Co-workers remember sports fan, prankster

By Ms. Marie Berberea (TRADOC)April 4, 2013

Randy Ward
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla.-- Randy Ward had a larger than life personality. That's why it's such a shock to the Fort Sill community that he is no longer alive.

Ward died March 20 in Lawton at the age of 58. He was battling cancer and died from a heart attack after undergoing surgery to remove the cancer.

"I saw him at the hospital and thought he was turning the corner," said Shane Dunlevy, Community Recreation officer. "I didn't believe it."

Ward served in the Army from 1974 to 1981. He met his wife, May Harvey, in 1974.

For the last 31 years, Ward dedicated his efforts to the sports and recreation programs here at Fort Sill. He was seen at every game, with a big smile on his face.

"He's a permanent fixture," said Shane Dunlevy.

Dunlevy worked with Ward since 2007, but actually met him in Florida during an athletic business conference in 2002.

"At the time I was working at Fort Leonard Wood. I was just out there in the hotel lobby in between seminars just shooting the bull, and then I just stayed in touch with him through email."

Ward was a friendly face to Dunlevy and any others he came in contact with.

"He didn't have any enemies. He could sit there and talk with anybody about anything," said Dunlevy.

"He left an impact on the people he worked with and the people he met here at Fort Sill, past and present," said Jay Hunt, Supervisory Sports specialist.

Hunt said he realized how many friends Ward had made over the years because Soldiers both active duty and retired would regularly stop in, just to say hi to Ward.

Randy's rules

Dunlevy said Randy had a flare for doing things his way. He always kept Soldiers in the forefront and that's what led him to make his own rules.

"There was always the ASA rules and then there were Randy's rules. When I first got here the officials were giving me grief about 'When are you going to change his rules?' About halfway through the first softball season I figured out what they were talking about," said Dunlevy.

He said Ward would change minor things, but nothing that would really effect the game.

"He wanted to make sure the Soldiers got what they paid for, so-to-speak, and wanted to make sure they got a fair shake of the game. Some of it would deal with what type of bat they could use and things like that. If ASA said a certain bat was legal sometimes Randy would say it's not legal out here strictly from a safety standpoint," said Dunlevy.

The prankster

"He was a fan of the air horn," said Dunlevy.

"I worked with Randy for only a few short months and I found that out quickly. I'd have my back to him and he'd be back there behind me working on his computer, or at least I thought he was, and the whole time he was getting his air horn out. And all of a sudden 'honk!' and I'd jump out of my chair," said Hunt.

"He'd get the biggest kick out of it. It was almost like every time was the first time," said Dunlevy.

Appetite for life

"If there was food around, you were sure to find him," said Dunlevy. "If we had an event at the club that was in the evening during the week, somehow he would show up even though he's got some intramurals going on just to see what was happening," Dunlevy recalled. "He would always find his way over to the hors d'oeuvres."

Love of sports

Ward was a huge Washington Redskins fan, while his twin brother, Sandy, is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. Dunlevy said during the baseball season, the two would constantly argue which team was better.

"One time they went out golfing and Reggie Branch, a well known Red Skin player, was in their foursome. There were quite a few times Randy mentioned that. He thought it was one of the coolest deals," said Dunlevy.

As for the hole left in the sports world on post, Ward will be missed, but definitely not forgotten.

"It will definitely be big shoes to fill," said Dunlevy.

"He'll be missed. His smile, his personality ... just Randy," said Hunt.

"He's probably playing golf," said Dunlevy.

Ward is survived by his wife, May; his son Randy Ward, Jr.; two daughters, Amanda Ward and Shannon Ward; his mother, Margaret Ward; five grandchildren; brothers, Jimmy Ward, Charles Ward and wife Annette, and twin, Sandy Ward and wife Sharon; sisters, Alice Ward and Mary Ward; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.