Dess Schnur is the kind of man who gets things done.

Now in his fifth year as Pullman Park's director of stadium and field operations, Schnur, 70, still finds time in his busy schedule to run the awning business he started in 1978.

“I still fill every role for Schnur Awning Manufacturing,” he said. “I do the ordering, inventory, marketing, sales, I do it all.

“Since we started, I've missed just two jobs, and that's because I was in the hospital.”

Schnur was chosen for his position at the baseball stadium by the Pullman Park Facilities Board in the summer of 2008. From the beginning, he had a vision in mind for the sports venue.

“I wanted Pullman to host 150 baseball games per year,” he said. “Last year, we had 200 here.”

One of the main reasons for the park's popularity is Schnur's innovative thinking. In 2011, he had synthetic turf installed at the home plate area and followed it up last year with a synthetic pitching mound.

Those changes led to Pullman often being the one field in Butler County and surrounding area that can host a game despite rain.

“Compared to a traditional dirt field, we spend about one-tenth the time in maintenance here at Pullman,” said Schnur. “The less time spent on maintaining a field, the better.”

Pullman Park also features two batting cages, installed underneath the bleachers in 2009.

Karns City, Moniteau and Knoch high school baseball teams all play their home games at the venue, and Butler is a frequent tenant, as well.

“The last couple of years, we've had between 60 and 70 high school games per season played here,” said Schnur. “The word is out about Pullman. Schools realize that they have an opportunity to play here. We're planning on being busier than ever this year.”

Schnur is researching the history of Pullman Park, which dates back to 1934.

“I've put in a lot of hours over the last four years, gathering information and pictures,” he said. “I'm motivated to do it, though it seems like an endless task. John Houston is a good friend of mine, and he has helped me out so much with this project.

“We hope to have a timeline on the park's website and ultimately, I'd like to have a book written on the history of Pullman Park.”

After earning a bachelor's degree in education from Indiana (Pa.) State College and a master's degree from Slippery Rock University, Schnur spent 35 years as a fifth-grade teacher at Oakland Township Elementary.

“My great-grandmother was a teacher, and many other members of my family became teachers,” he said. “It seems to be a family thing, and I loved the relationships I formed over the years.”

Many organizations have benefitted from Schnur's leadership.

In the mid-1980s, he was instrumental in getting a junior varsity baseball team started at Butler High School.

“In 1984, Butler had nearly 100 boys try out for the baseball team,” he said. “I thought, 'That's going to be a lot of kids who are going to get cut.' I went to the school board and presented a case” for another team.

Several years later, a varsity softball program was born at Butler. Again, Schnur was in on the ground floor.

From 1984-2008, Schnur was head coach of East Butler's American Legion baseball team, winning more than 300 games and claiming 10 league titles in that span. He was inducted into the American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

“I always played kids based on their ability and what they could contribute to the team,” he said. “I never played favorites.”

It was the experience he gained during his 28 years in the U.S. Army that has helped Schnur step to the fore when knowledge and leadership are needed.

“I was in charge of 250 men in South Korea in 1966-67,” he said. “After that, I led a training academy at Fort Bragg in North Carolina for seven months. Then I spent 26 years between the National Guard and Reserves.

“To me, leadership comes down to dedication and respect,” Schnur said. “I can get along and work with anybody as long as we respect each other.”

During his military service, Schnur rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

“Your efficiency reports determine whether or not you get promoted,” he said. “I always had good efficiency reports.

“I received so much from my military experience. The structure, discipline, respect for others, it has all stuck with me.

“When faced with a problem, I do my homework. Things don't just come off the top of my head. I gather as much information as I can on the situation, look at all the options, come to a conclusion and ride it out.”

Leadership does not always entail telling people what to do and how to do it. It often comes down to simply doing the right thing.

Schnur had an opportunity to do just that soon after retiring from the military in 1993.

“Leo Keasy was a good friend of mine who passed away in the mid-1990s,” he said. “He was a military guy, too, and at his funeral, there was a man playing the taps, but he was dressed in civilian clothes. After the service, I approached the man and asked him if he had a military uniform. He said that he didn't have the money for that.

“The man was about my size and, with me being recently retired, I had no use for my uniforms. I told him I would give him what I had, which included tans, greens and dress blues. He came to my house a few days later to pick them up.”

His many years involved in the East Butler Baseball Association allowed Schnur to meld two of his favorite interests — community and baseball.

As the chairman of Alumni and Renovation of the group, he helped to upgrade the association's fields, including the Little League diamond where modified synthetic turf recently was installed.

Schnur helped the association get the much-needed funds by finalizing agreements with more than 40 sponsors. It is a role he also tackles yearly at Pullman Park.

“You have to attract sponsors who are community-minded,” he said. “If you are dealing with a sponsor who simply wants to know what he will get in return for his money, it's not going to work.”

Though he has found himself involved in many sports-related ventures, principles help Schnur keep everything in perspective.

“Some people get involved in sports because they have a personal agenda,” he said. “Others simply want to do the best for the most and that's what I try to do.

“My main objective has always been to provide a maximum number of baseball or softball players the chance to play,” added Schnur. “Number two, I want to give them optimal playing conditions.”

Dess and Bernie Schnur have been married for 44 years. They have three children, Des, Curt and Tanya, and five grandchildren.

“All three of our kids are doing well,” said Schnur. “We respect and support each other.

“I recently told my wife, Bernie, that I was thinking about slowing down a bit. She said, 'You've been saying that for 30 years,'” Schnur said with a laugh.

“So many of my friends have passed away, a lot of them were younger than me. I feel if you stay involved in things, it keeps you mentally sharp and it helps you stay in shape.”

<B>Age: </B>70<B>Address: </B>Butler<B>Family: </B>Wife, Bernie, and three grown children, Des, Curt and Tanya<B>Employment:</B> Director of stadium and field operations at Pullman Park; owner of Schnur Awning Manufacturing<B>Past employment:</B> 35 years as a fifth-grade teacher at Oakland Township Elementary<B>Education:</B> Bachelor’s in education from Indiana (Pa.) State College; master’s from Slippery Rock University<B>LEADERSHIP IS:</B>“To me, leadership comes down to dedication and respect. I can get along and work with anybody as long as we respect each other.”<B>INSPIRATION:</B>“I think of Ches Marburger. He was the first president of the Butler County American Legion Baseball league and coached Mars’ team for so many years. He was a man with integrity, and you could trust him. You don’t find too many of those around.”