Over the years, thousands of people have enjoyed food and drinks from the concession stand at Dodger Stadium. The energy and dedication of Steve Springer helped to make that possible.

Springer was a member of the Fort Dodge Community School District Board of Education and the Fort Dodge Senior High School Booster Club. As an outgrowth of those roles, he spent a lot of time in the stadium’s concession stand.

He invested so much of his time there that he became more than a volunteer. As Tom Kinseth, the school district’s former activities and athletics director put it, Springer became “the person to see” for all things related to operating a concession stand.

Springer died of esophageal cancer at age 59 on May 31, 2020.

But his connection to the concession stand, which was revamped during a recent renovation of Dodger Stadium, remains strong.

Earlier this month, school district leaders and members of the Springer family came together to dedicate the concession stand in his memory.

The memorial sign placed at the concessions area, created by Dodge Graphix of Fort Dodge, reads, “A dedicated Dodger and loyal volunteer, Steve gave his time and heart to the community he loved. His spirit, kindness and commitment will forever be remembered by the Dodger family.”

His legacy of service to hungry spectators at the stadium goes beyond a memorial plaque.

In August 2021, the annual Prairie Rivers Trail Ride raised more than $13,000 in Springer’s memory. More than 150 bicyclists participated. The money was donated to the FDCSD, which then promised to use it for concession stand improvements as part of the Dodger Stadium renovation project. Thus, the updated facility carries on the work he was so dedicated to.

Running a concession stand is a lot of work. Not many people become as passionate about doing that, and doing it well, in the way that Steve Springer did. His work was remarkable. Honoring him at the current concession stand is exactly the right thing to do.

Running the concession stand may have been the most visible aspect of Springer’s service to the community, but it was not his only civic endeavor. He assisted the Girl Scouts of Lakota Council and Shellabration. He was one of the founders of the Fort Dodge Baseball Association. He was a member of Sertoma Sundowners and the Noon Lions Club.

We salute his service at the stand and throughout the community.

And we encourage everyone to visit the concession stand when at Dodger Stadium. We’re pretty sure Steve would approve.