The Geneva Red Wings held a special ceremony Thursday night to pay tribute to their late groundskeeper John Salone. McDonough Park’s field is now “John Salone Field” as fans will notice atop the scoreboard. Salone, a community figure and a 1974 De Sales High School graduate, passed away last August at the age of 66.

John’s contributions to the community were numerous, serving as Lyons’ mayor from 1997-2001, director of Lyons Community Center, Geneva City Ward 6 Councilor, General Manager of Geneva Red Wings Baseball, and a dedicated member of the Sons of Italy. He also owned Café Roma in Lyons and was part of the first catholic baseball team to clinch the Sectional Class B title in 1974.