Softball fields at Kings Lions Park get blessing from local service club

Members of the Vieira family and relatives of John Patrick Vieira gather for a rededication of the softball field named after him.

Lion’s members dedicated the new Clement Field, named after longtime athletic coach and director Bob Clement, and then rededicated a softball field originally named after John Patrick Vieira, a young man who lost his life in a tragic accident in 1978.

Clement, who has lived in Lemoore his entire life was an exceptional athlete and student at Lemoore High Scholl where he played baseball, basketball and football. He taught at Lemoore High School beginning in 1971 and coached the baseball team for 28 years before leaving to accept the athletic director’s job at West Hills College.

It has been quite the year for Clement who earlier this year was named the community’s Citizen of the Year and last month was inducted into the LHS Foundation Hall of Fame.

Vieira was only 27 when he passed away in 1978. A 1969 graduate of LHS, he was well known for his football playing ability and was a member of the school’s track team. He graduate from West Hills College where he was on both the track and football teams. He played in the Camellia Bowl while a student at Chico State University.

According to family and friends, Vieira was someone everyone liked and admired. He loved Lemoore and gave back in any way he could. After his death, many community members got together and pushed for the building of the initial Vieira Field, which originally rested next to the old BMX track.