Fall River couple gave to community for decades, now they are being honored with a monument

A Fall River couple intrenched in the community for decades are receiving a prestigious honor.

After fundraising efforts from community members, a monument is set to be unveiled to honor George “Sneaker” McDonald and his wife Evelyn at the Lafayette Park Baseball Field in Fall River.

Sneaker, who spent 30-years in the Fall River Police Department, earned the nickname for his ability to sneak up on criminals without detection and apprehend them swiftly.

George McDonald passed away in February 2020, at the age of 94, leaving an indelible mark on the city.

While having a decorated baseball career himself, he was a manager, coach, umpire, league president, grounds crew supervisor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fall River Junior Twilight Baseball League for 61 years. Not many can think of Lafayette Park without thinking of Sneaker.

Sneaker’s dedication to Fall River and youth baseball was unmatched; however, his wife Evelyn also played a role. According to those familiar with the pair, she was responsible for taking care of the Twilight League uniforms, assisted Sneaker with the treasury, and even filled in as a coach when needed.

George and Evelyn received many accolades throughout the years including having the baseball diamond at Lafayette Park named in their honor, but when you are a city icon, there are never too many acknowledgments.

The dedication is set to take place on April 15th, at Lafayette Park at noon followed by a game in their honor between Diman and Durfee at 1:00 p.m.