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ALBANY, GA. -- Albany Sports Hall of Fame member Paul Eames, 84, passed away on Monday at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

After retiring from playing baseball in 1955, He made it his life's journey to keep the sport alive.

“If you were a kid in my age group growing up here in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, he knew every kid in town and every kid new Paul Eames,” said Former Dougherty County Athletic Director Frank Orgel.

Eames worked as Athletic Director for the City of Albany mentoring children to make sure they had a chance to get ahead. Those who worked closely with him say over the years he's helped hundreds get scholarships and some pupils eventually went on to play professional baseball.

G.C. Croft was a young softball coach when he became friends with Eames in the 1960s.

“He was not only a coach but he taught the boys about morals, respect and things like that,” said G.C. Croft.

It’s something Frank Orgel knows about first hand.

“I had got into another fight and Paul pulled me aside and said ‘Do I need to tell your daddy about this?’ I said ‘Please don't’ and he said ‘Well this will be between you and me,” said Frank Orgel.

Over 50 years later that act of kindness stays with him. Orgel says if you didn't love Paul Eames, then you needed to look in the mirror.

For G.C. Croft, this is the ending of a long friendship.

“He's going to be missed by everybody in Albany and of course I’ll be one of them that miss him the most,” said friend G.C. Croft.

Paul Eames’ funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2011 at Byne Memorial Baptist Church located at 2832 Ledo Road. Albany, GA 31707.

His remains will be cremated and buried at Crown Hill Cemetery following the memorial service.

The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.