As a black tarp fell to the ground Tuesday evening, more than 70 people clapped and beamed up at the new green scoreboard that displayed "Carl M. Vogel Field" in bright white letters, replacing the name "Cosmo Field."
Before the Jefferson City High School Jays softball team played the Hickman High School Kewpies, dozens of people gathered at Jefferson City's Ellis-Porter Riverside Park to honor Carl Vogel, a former Missouri state representative and state senator for nearly 20 years who died of pancreatic cancer in April 2016.
"I'm humbled and honored to be out here," Jake Vogel, Carl's son, told the audience before a ribbon-cutting ceremony. "From the heart, thank you so much."
Carl Vogel served as president of Jefferson City Coca-Cola Bottling Company and was on various community boards and commissions like the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary's Health Center, Missouri Development Finance Board, Jefferson City Housing Authority and Jefferson City CrimeStoppers.
He used to umpire Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department slow-pitch recreation softball games, as well as officiate high school football and basketball games.
Family, friends and coworkers remembered Carl Vogel as a quiet and giving man. State Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, described him as "one of the finest servants" in the community.
The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission approved renaming Cosmo Field to Vogel Field in June. Commission President Brad Bates proposed the idea since Carl Vogel was a well-known supporter of youth sports.
"It goes without saying that Carl was very successful in his business career and he could have just rested on those laurels, but he gave back to the community and officiated many games and he was always a top donor for kids' sports," Bates said. "So it just seemed like a fitting tribute to a wonderful man."
The ceremony also showcased some of the field renovations, including a new brick backstop, black netting, dugouts, playing surface and batting cages.
"This is a first-class field for a first-class man," Bernskoetter said.