2014 City of Albany, "Paul Eames Christmas Tree Lot"

Paul Eames Christmas Tree lot

In 1963 Coach Paul Eames and three other coaches, David Cravey, Harold Deen Cook and Wilbur Lofton started selling Christmas trees on the corner of Slappey and Waddell. They began hiring young ball players to do most of the heavy work. Now, 51 years later, Paul Eames son Glenn is running the tree lot and is hiring 3 generation ballplayers to work where their fathers and grandfathers worked. Generations of families have purchased trees from Paul Eames Tree lot which now sits on Dawson Rd. and Eva St.

Paul Eames: Moved to Albany in 1950 when he was assigned to the Albany Cardinals of the Class D Georgia-Florida League. He played in the League until 1955. He started working with the Albany Recreation Department in the off season in 1953. He became the City of Albany Athletic Director and remained with the city for 28 years. He coached with the Walter Burt American Legion Post 30 baseball teams for 9 years where they won back-to-back state championships. He also coached the Deerfield Windsor baseball team to a state championship. He was elected to the Albany Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and was also a member of the Georgia-Florida-Alabama Class D Minor League Hall of Fame.

"Paul met a young local girl, Dot Roberson, while playing for the Cardinals and eventually they were married on home plate at the Cardinal baseball field before a sold out crowd. Paul then called Albany home and never left."