By Joe Potter
Laker Correspondent
Hundreds of people turned out May 22 for the Leon Shoupe Benefit Tournament at two locations in Dade City, including family, friends and softball players Shoupe had known most of his life.
Leon, owner of Roto-Rooter Sewer Services in Dade City for 17 years, died unexpectedly Jan. 15 of a heart attack. He was 45.
Approximately $6,000 was raised for the Shoupe family, including his widow, Kim, and his children, Kaleigh and Trent Shoupe, according to Jack Rhoden, one of the benefit tournament’s organizers.
Games were played at Mickens Field, located at the corner of Taylor Avenue and Canal Street, and Watson Park, located on North Avenue and Main Avenue between 17th and 19th streets.
The city cleaned up Mickens Field, which had not been used regularly for about a decade, so there would be two fields where the games could be played. City manager Billy Poe and other city staff members stepped up and did “a tremendous amount of work” when the request was made to use Mickens Field, Rhoden said. The Shoupe family and others really appreciate the help the city provided, Rhoden continued.
Members of the Shoupe family came out to Watson Park at 8 a.m. to throw out the first pitch of the tournament, according to Rhoden. The tournament continued well into the night before wrapping up.
The tournament was planned because Leon played adult softball for several years, Rhoden said. Leon knew many of the members of the other teams from Dade City, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, Lakeland, Spring Hill, Brooksville and Winter Haven that participated in the tournament.
Umpires donated their time for the tournament, according to Rhoden. Leroy Tolbert flew in from Tennessee to umpire a couple of games and flew back after the games.
Chicken dinners, hamburgers, hot dogs, water and soft drinks were sold throughout the day at both fields to raise additional money for the Shoupe family.
The tournament turned out better than anticipated Kim said. She could not believe how many people turned out to support it.
They would have celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary in February, continued Kim Shoupe, who has operated Roto-Rooter since her husband’s death.
Her husband was a happy-go-lucky man who knew everybody around, Kim said.
Leon’s mother, Frances Shoupe, said she thought it was wonderful to have a softball benefit to help raise money for her late son’s family.
Leon’s parents, Roy Leon Shoupe Sr. and Frances, opened the Roto-Rooter business in Pasco County in 1973. Frances ran the business by herself for a couple of years after her husband passed away. Leon took over the business in 1992.
Roto-Rooter’s team bested the team Donkey Bunch 14-12 in one of the games played at Mickens Field. Donkey Punch had players from Dade City, Zephyrhills and Brooksville.
Leon is remembered for giving friends and family members nicknames. One of the Roto-Rooter team members, Joel Dixon, whom Shoupe had dubbed “Fat Boy,” helped his team’s cause by blasting a grand slam. Dixon said afterward it had felt good to hit the homerun. When asked if he hits the long ball often, Dixon replied, “No, man. I’m just a base hitter.”
