Thanks for the memories Federal Way Memorial

By Tim Clinton

When it was pointed out driving by that the Federal Way Memorial Field grandstands had been torn down, it was like a piece of me had gone down with them.

Kind of like the feeling I had watching the Kingdome implode on television.

The memories of countless names, faces and events swirled through my head.

Included were memories of those who went on to greater glory in the respective sports they participated in there.

I can still see Lake Dawson of Federal Way's off balance circus catches in the end zone, and he went on to play for Notre Dame University, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts.

Then there was the Thomas Jefferson offensive line in the mid 1980s that included future Washington State Cougar Mike Smith and future Washington Husky Kris Rongen that almost paved the way into the state playoffs for the Raiders.

And there's no way I could forget the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer teams that were on their way to six state championships and included the likes of future pros Wade Webber and Darren Sawatzky.

Then there were those who left their mark in sports they would not go on in back in the days before so much one sport specialization.

There was Donny Marshall also standing out in soccer on that field for Federal Way before going on to play basketball at the University of Connecticut and for the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association.

Before him there was TJ's Mike Meyers, who played receiver for the Raider football team there but went on to star in baseball at Yakima Valley and Washington State before being drafted by the San Francisco Giants and not signing because of a nagging injury.

Federal Way's Larry Cratsenberg played for Orange Coast and USC in California and was drafted three times in baseball including once by the Seattle Mariners and was also bit by the injury bug at the end of his college career.  He was also stellar as a wide receiver at Federal Way Memorial.

I also saw events like Donnis Henry running his way into the South Puget Sound League football record books for the Decatur Gators.

Others can tell you about what happened at Federal Way Memorial Field and who played there all the way back to when it was built in 1971.

Of course the new stadium is supposed to be much improved after its $21 million renovation, to the point where it will be able to even host state championships.

The seating capacity will be bumped up by 760 people to an even 4,000 with 2,000 seated on both the home and visitor sides.

One can only hope it will be like the Kingdome being replaced by T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field as far as memories go.

The Seattle Mariners' magical first playoff run in the Kingdome in 1995 was eclipsed by the 116-win season at then Safeco Field in 2001, and Jim Zorn passing to Steve Largent in the dome was later overshadowed by the team's Super Bowl Championship season in 2014 and appearances in the big game in 2005 and 2015.

So there may be better days ahead at the stadium Decatur, Federal Way, Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer all call home.