PLANS BEING MADE — Preparing for the first “Tennis Shoe Ernie” softball tourney are, from left, Nelson Gifts chief craftsman Brody Stutzman, organizer Patrick McLaughlin, Max Nelson and Nelson Gifts owner Mark Nelson. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — Just a few months after his untimely death, friends of the late Ernie Hollinger have banded together to raise money in his name.

In addition to collecting money for a memorial plaque, the first “Tennis Shoe Ernie” softball tournament will be April 29 at 11 a.m. in Belleview Park.

Hollinger, 80, passed away Feb. 1 after his iconic scooter was struck by another vehicle traveling in the same direction on Sunset Boulevard at Negley Avenue. A lifelong resident of Steubenville, Hollinger was known throughout the community for his window-cleaning business as well as his passion for sports.

In his honor, co-ed teams will be taking the field in pursuit of the one-of-a-kind trophy, a converse tennis shoe that Brody Stutzman, master carver and chief craftsman at Nelson’s Gifts, created for the occasion.

Organizer Patrick McLaughlin said he’s had to turn people away.

“He meant so much to so many people,” McLaughlin said. “When I thought about doing this event, for the first year I thought I’d keep it small, just to pay a little tribute to Ernie because he loved co-ed softball. I wanted to do a memorial so people could come and enjoy reflecting on his life, think about what he meant to so many people.”

In hindsight, McLaughlin said his biggest mistake was underestimating all the people who’d want to be part of the event, not just as players but behind-the-scenes.

“I didn’t form a committee, I thought I’d just do it small,” he said. “That was a mistake. So many people want to be part of this — I started with four teams, but so many people wanted to play that people were kind enough to combine teams. I even have a team from New Philadelphia that wants to come down and play, Now we have eight teams (entered.)”

McLaughlin said the money that’s been donated — and there’s been a lot — is being used to defray expenses, and whatever is left over will be donated “back to the community” in his name.

“That many people have supported this event and I greatly appreciate that. One hundred percent of all money donated, after we pay for everything, is going back in Ernie’s name to this community, we will not hold onto one penny whatsoever.”

All donations are being routed through the Steubenville Cultural Trust, a 501(c)3, which allows those who are interested in helping to make tax-deductible donations to the project, including the 8 foot-by-8- foot memorial, which will be printed on an aluminum composite material with Hollinger’s image on one side and his life story on the other. It’s been designed and printed by Nelson’s Gifts.

He said the response has been overwhelming.

“It’s for the love they have of him, he was just a great person,” McLaughlin said. “When I walk in, people say ‘whatever you need.’ They don’t ask how much I need or what I need, it’s just whatever you need — that means the world to me.”

McLaughlin said the Steubenville High School band will at the ball field to perform the national anthem and the Big Red alma mater in memory of Ernie, an alumnus. He’s planning to go into more detail at a 1 p.m. press conference at Belleview Park later today.

“The man had a heart of gold,” McLaughlin said, recalling how he was “a great friend of mine, a great friend of my father’s.” Years ago, Hollinger lived across the hall from his father, and they’d check on each other. Eventually McLaughlin’s father had to go into a home in Wintersville, but “Ernie would still ride out there every day to see him.”

He said the community’s willingness to rally round the project “didn’t surprise me one bit.”

“Community support has been unbelievable,” he said. “They loved that man.”