"Every year, something like 350 girls go through the Rock Island Girls Softball League and it wouldn't be the same without Bill," said Bob Swanson.
Before the teams arrive at Merrill Morris Field to play, there's a man who's already been there for hours getting the fields ready to play on.
His name is Bill DeVrieze.
WQAD caught up with the retired East Moline Police Captain on a random day to see what he does. We found him sucking water off the fields, raking the dirt, replacing sprinkler heads, and putting up a foul pole. It's work he normally does all by himself, except for this particular time.
"When he knew the cameras were coming, he called two of us and said - 'You guys need to come over. We're going to work on the field," explained Bob. "He just doesn't want to be in the spotlight and yet it is so deserved. None of the rest of us do a fraction of what he does. He works on the fields pretty much every day."
It's that hard work that got Merrill Morris Field lights so games can be played at night. Bob said they were paid for through a grant that Bill wrote to Major League Baseball's "Baseball Tomorrow" Program. They won the grant and all the money needed to put up the lights. Bob said Bill has also worked tirelessly to put up a scoreboard, concession stand, and more - without asking for any kind of recognition.
"As far as "unsung heroes," I doubt a whole lot of people know his name," said Bob. "A lot of people in the league don't realize how all of this gets done. They just show up and the fields are in great shape and they have no idea it was Bill working up here all day."
That's one reason why Bob nominated Bill for the Jefferson Award, on behalf of WQAD and Genesis Health System.
"When I heard about the Jefferson Award, it just sounded like - this is Bill," said Bob.
Bob said the other reason is the amount of money Bill has been able to raise for the Rock Island Girls Softball League.
"$200,000 has been raised and put into this field and Bill pretty much wrote every grant that they got, was the guy out soliciting, talking to people, and even selling Christmas trees to raise money," said Bob. "He just everything you imagine and is still at it."
Today, Bob is working on the lower field. Both Bob and Bill said the hope is to have lights and a scoreboard down there, too. Bob said Bill is already on his way to reaching those goals.
"He built the foul poles, the seats, the benches in the dugouts, poured the concrete to make the dugouts," he listed. "He just does a little bit of everything. It's amazing."
The other thing that is amazing is that Bill doesn't have any daughters, yet he's been coaching the Rock Island Girls Softball League for 15 years.
"It's fun to do," said Bill. "It gives me something to do, I guess. It's fun watching the kids. They're good kids."
As for becoming a Jefferson Award Nominee:
"People volunteer for different reasons in different groups," he explained. "People start up for different reasons and stay for different reasons and I guess I couldn't tell you what the reason was. If you enjoy doing it, you do it."
WQAD will be introducing you to a new Jefferson Award Nominee every month. In Spring 2016, we will announce who is going to represent our area at the National Jefferson Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The Jefferson Awards are the country’s longest standing and most prestigious celebration of public service. Past winners include Chad Pregracke, Walter Cronkite, Steve Jobs, Paul Newman, and Michael Bloomberg.
To nominate an "unsung hero" for the Jefferson Award, click here.