David Tiffin: Softball field name honors man who made it possible

PROGRESS 2023: What’s In A Name

David Tiffin was taken completely by surprise when, at an April 2006 home game, the Red Bay softball team named their field for him.

“I was quite honored, to tell you the truth about it. I was not expecting that,” Tiffin said.

Tiffin was responsible for purchasing the land that now serves as the site of the softball field. Although he at one point envisioned it for the expansion of Dixie Youth baseball, he soon saw Red Bay High School’s need for a softball facility and donated it to the school – after getting the land improved.

“I was honored. It was nice to receive that recognition – but I didn’t do a whole lot, in my opinion, to deserve it,” said Tiffin, a former mayor and city councilman and longtime supporter of Red Bay athletics.

Although Tiffin’s feelings about his involvement are humble, Alan Hardin had a different idea about what recognition Tiffin deserved. Hardin, whose daughter grew up playing ball with Tiffin’s granddaughter, instigated getting the field named for Tiffin.

“If it wasn’t for him, it wouldn’t be there,” said Hardin, who recalls the piece of property was “nothing but a gulley” when Tiffin first purchased it.

Hardin along with Tiffin’s son-in-law Richard Hammock and several other softball dads had set to work rehabbing the school’s field when their daughters advanced to playing junior high ball. Once the field had been upgraded, Hardin thought of Tiffin and a desire to “give him the recognition I thought he deserved because he put a lot of money into that field.”

“I just thought it would be nice to recognize David because a lot of people had forgotten,” Hardin explained.

Tiffin’s granddaughters were a crucial part of the field’s dedication to him, with Alyssa Horton giving him a ball to throw the first pitch and Holly Hammock catching it.

“It’s a nice facility,” said Tiffin – though still discounting the part he played, he joked, “I don’t think my name is mentioned too much.”

Mayor Charlene Fancher said efforts like Tiffin’s are crucial and deserve to be honored especially because of the cascading effect they can have.

“It makes others step up to the plate,” Fancher explained. “I think it’s important to take note of our forefathers – people who have been significant and been generous in supporting a city … That’s how a city continues to grow.”