Dess Schnur, a longtime Butler County baseball manager and organizer, was hired recently as director of stadium operations at Pullman Park by the Butler Redevelopment Authority.

Dess Schnur always has felt a connection to Pullman Park. Now the ballpark is connected to him.

Schnur, 66, recently was named director of stadium operations by the Butler Redevelopment Authority.

His duties include maintenance and daily operation of the park, event bookings and overseeing banquet facilities and stadium rental.

"This is a good steppingstone for me," he said. "With my experience, this is something I've dreamed about.

"Pullman Park has always been a special place, even before its renovations. I'm honored by this and I'm going to enjoy doing it."

Schnur is president of the Butler County American Legion Baseball League and he managed East Butler's team for 24 years. He also managed Heckett to seven Butler Prep League titles in nine years during the late 1980s and early '90s at Pullman Park.

Schnur spearheaded the development of the East Butler Baseball Association Complex, including the building and renovation of Speed-O Field.

"Dess is Mr. Baseball in this area, as far as I'm concerned," redevelopment authority director Perry O'Malley said. "He is more than qualified. Our board was looking for somebody with proper experience who would be willing to take this position and run with it."

O'Malley said the Pullman Board of Trust and the redevelopment authority determined someone was needed to oversee the operation of Pullman Park "as that is going to be a busy place next spring and summer."

Tom Burnatoski, chairman of the new Sports Authority and longtime member of the Pullman Board of Trust, said he's happy about the selection of Schnur.

"He's been involved with baseball for so long and he knows so many people,"Burnatoski said. "Dess will be a tremendous asset to us."

Now 73 and experiencing leg problems, Burnatoski said he could not have handled the position himself.

"It wasn't feasible," he said. "Besides, I'm not as involved in the baseball side as much as some of the other guys. Dess will fill the bill all the way around."

Schnur said he will determine in January whether or not he will remain involved with Legion baseball.

"My immediate goal is to make Pullman Park a vibrant part of Butler County,"Schnur said. "I want it to be a place people get to know, love to see an event there, with good food and a comfortable atmosphere."

Besides scheduling baseball, Schnur hopes to book some softball games, as well as four to six non-sporting events a year.

O'Malley hopes to have six concerts at Pullman Park in 2009, another summer professional boxing show and possibly a lower division NCAAchampionship tournament there in May.

American Legion and Eagle County League baseball teams still will call the facility home as well. College teams in the region have expressed interest in playing a few games there.

"We're looking to form some high school and college level baseball tournaments to play there in August, when things might get a little slow,"O'Malley said.

Burnatoski and his wife ran the concession stand at Pullman Park for a number of years. Longtime friend Jim McKinney took care of the playing field before his death in April 2003.

"My wife's gone now, too,"Burnatoski said. "I wish they could have lived to see this. It's a different ballpark now and it's in good hands."