HRYS is proud to present the Jeff Dalling Memorial Scholarship annually to a graduating HRYS senior.

The 2025 Scholarship is closed and a winner will be announced soon!

HRYS Remembers Jeff Dalling
On Saturday, November 8th 2008, the Lord called Jeff Dalling home. Jeff was a long time coach and board member of the HRYS family. Many of us will remember Jeff as a co-worker, a
family man and a man of faith. I will always remember Jeff as a special gift given to our softball league by God.
I refer to Jeff as a gift because of when you think of the definition of a gift we can really see how Jeff was a special part of our world. The common definitions of a gift are:

1. Something that is given to somebody, usually in order to provide pleasure or to show gratitude, and
2. A special talent or a natural ability that somebody appears to have been born with, especially an artistic ability or social skill.

Jeff freely gave his time, skills, knowledge, and his talent in many aspects of his life. People will attest to this in his work and his faith. I can only attest to those gifts Jeff gave to our players and to our softball league. Jeff was an excellent coach and active board member. He took on the difficult and challenging tasks needed to ensure that our players and league had fields to play on and participated in all the time consuming tasks needed to ensure that our league was properly administered each season.

In addition, Jeff took the extra time to coach his daughter and other young girls in our league. Jeff taught our girls the joy of the game called softball and just as importantly provided them with a positive way to learn about life lessons and how to handle victory and defeat. Jeff taught the girls both about winning and losing in sports and how it prepares them for what will happen in their future years of life beyond the sport’s arena. Parents and  players can attest to the love and passion that Jeff had for teaching and coaching players in how to become better players and about being a successful person. Jeff knew that the time he spent with these players gave these girls the ability to learn team work while gaining a sense of pride and accomplishment as their softball skills developed. 

Jeff was a very good coach. I can remember watching him coach first base in several games and providing encouragement to his players. Jeff was quick to share in the joy of a player’s accomplishment as she made a base hit or a great defensive play. Jeff was also quick to share with his players a “good try” when things did not go as planned.

In the end, God determines when we will be called home to his kingdom. I am sure that Jeff will be a great addition to the souls in heaven looking down upon his family and his extended family that he had with the players and our league. As a person, the greatest gift that we can give is the time and talent that we share with others. In this regard, Jeff was a huge gift to our league and our community at large. I will miss Jeff. I know that the league that he supported so well will also miss him. I am sure that Jeff would want us to take his passing, as with all things that he did, as a life lesson for us to share with our players and our families.

Let us celebrate and enjoy the gifts that Jeff gave us and build upon the work he did as a key member of our league.

Our thoughts, prayers and wishes go out to his wife Wanda, Daughter Elizabeth (Izzy) and son Ben as they mourn the loss of this Husband, Father, Coach and person.

Bob Thomas
HRYS Commissioner
November 2009

HRYS Congratulates & Celebrates our winners:

The 2025 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Gracie D of South Lakes HS
The 2024 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Mackenzie K. of South Lakes HS
The 2023 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Megan K. of South Lakes HS
The 2022 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Mackenzie S. of Herndon HS
The 2021 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Sophia Y. of South Lakes HS
The 2020 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Maija L. of South Lakes HS
The 2019 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Sierra S. of South Lakes HS
The 2017 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Ashley M. & Rachel A.
The 2016 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Ashley G. of South Lakes HS.
The 2015 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Kellye of South Lakes HS.
The 2014 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Morgan of Herndon HS.
The 2013 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Kaitlyn & Lizzy.
The 2012 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Erica of South Lakes HS.
The 2011 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Katie of Herndon HS.
The 2010 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Megan of Herndon HS.
The 2009 Jeff Dalling Scholarship was presented to Carrie of Herndon HS.