Bill John was honored to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Fort Dodge Dodgers varsity game against Des Moines Roosevelt last night — a special moment that brought him back to where his baseball journey first began.

Bill attended Cooper and Feelhaver Elementary, North Junior High — Phillips Middle School — and graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1977.

His first organized baseball game was played on the field located on the southwest corner of Dodger Stadium, which is now a soccer field. After moving to the south suburbs of Minneapolis, Bill began his coaching career in 1987 in Burnsville, where he coached youth baseball and football and eventually served as president of the youth program for 10 years.

After retiring from a successful career in commercial construction in 2013, Bill began coaching at the high school level in Burnsville. He later became the Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Lakeville South, leading the program to its first conference title and a trip to State, where they earned the Consolation Championship in 2023. He also served as a varsity football assistant coach, helping lead the team to two State Championships.

One of Bill’s favorite baseball memories was coaching against Dodger Hall of Famer Bill Goodman’s Apple Valley team, who shared their conference.

Most importantly, Bill values the relationships he has made with the many players he has had the pleasure of coaching. He is proud to see them grow into successful adults and to know the lessons learned on the team played a part in that.

His favorite saying is, “It’s a great day for baseball.”

And as the old saying goes, “Once a Dodger, Always a Dodger.”

photo credit - Tai Nguyen

⚾ Dodger Baseball is back in action today!

The Dodgers take on Des Moines Roosevelt at Ed McNeil Field.

JV: 11:00 AM | 1:00 PM
Varsity: 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM

We’re excited to welcome 1977 graduate Bill John as he throws out the first pitch!

The FDBA Legends 13U Froisland Team will also be introduced tonight.

Head out for a great day of baseball and cheer on the Dodgers!
Tickets: https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/fortdodge/tickets

Go Dodgers! 🔴⚾⚫

National Gypsum was recognized at the FDCSD End of Year Teacher & Staff Celebration and received the Community Support Excellence Award.

We are proud to give back to the Ft. Dodge community and bring STEAM education to students in the neighborhoods where we live and work,” said Mark Dyer, Plant Manager, Gold Bond Building Products®. “Every year, Gold Bond plants around the country invest in STEAM education initiatives within their local communities to prepare the next generation of innovators and leaders. We're grateful for the partnership with the Fort Dodge School System and look forward to continuing this work together.”

We truly could not have accomplished many of the major upgrades and opportunities for our students without their continued support and partnership. We are incredibly fortunate to have National Gypsum investing in our schools, supporting our staff, and helping prepare our students for a bright future.

Thank you, National Gypsum, for making a lasting impact on Dodger Nation! ❤️🖤

About NGC Giving

NGC Giving is National Gypsum's annual community giving program. Each year, associates from across the company's family of brands, Gold Bond Building Products, LLC, ProForm Finishing Products, LLC, and PermaBASE Building Products, LLC, nominate local schools and nonprofits making a meaningful difference in the communities where they live and work. In 2025, the program donated $1 million across 40 organizations in 19 states and two Canadian provinces, with a focus on STEAM education, skilled trades training, and learning enrichment programs that prepare the next generation for careers in engineering, manufacturing, architecture, and beyond.

About Gold Bond Building Products

Gold Bond Building Products® delivers solutions designed to improve efficiency and meet evolving construction demands, delivering effective solutions for its customers’ building needs.

National Gypsum Company is headquartered in Charlotte, NC and is the exclusive service provider of reliable, high-performance building products manufactured by its affiliate companies and marketed under the Gold Bond®, ProForm® and PermaBASE® brands. The National Gypsum® name – through its Gold Bond, ProForm and PermaBASE product lines – has been synonymous with high-quality, innovative products and exceptional customer service since 1925.

The stage is set, and we can’t wait to celebrate our amazing teachers and staff at the FDCSD End-of-Year Gathering! 🌟

A special thank you to our generous community sponsors for helping make this event possible. Your support allows us to recognize and appreciate the incredible educators who make a difference in the lives of our students every day.

We’re looking forward to a great afternoon of food, fun, and celebration! ❤️🖤
#proud2bFD

Fort Dodge Senior Highs is excited to participate in this year's IHSMTA Showcase!

If you would like to catch tonight's performance, please make sure to use the link below to view the live stream.

pbs.org