Darrell Rosenow was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Rosenow and raised in the Clay Center-Green area. He was Valedictorian of his graduating class of 1954 at Clay Center High School. Rosenow received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agronomy from Kansas State University. In 1964, Darrell went to Texas A&M to work on his doctorate in agronomy.
While in college at Texas A&M, Darrell worked at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Lubbock, Texas. When he received his Ph.D. in 1970, Dr. Rosenow, known as ‘Doc’, was hired as a permanent worker at the experiment station. His work focused on improving the “growth of grain sorghum in developing areas of the world and for domestic use. His research and experimentation lead to genetically improved grain sorghum that is used in agriculture nationally and as an international food that feeds to 500 million people.
When Doc wasn’t at work, he spent time with his wife, Beverly, and their three daughters, Becky, Kristi, and Sheri. Darrell’s love of softball began in Kansas, where he played on the Clay Center Co-Op/Community High School fastpitch softball team, as a pitcher, with his brother Don Rosenow (Clay Center) and others like Raymond Nelson (Riley ), Lyle Pfaff (Leonardville), Joe Steiner (Manhattan), Lyle Walter (Riley), the late Dennis Grater (Clay Center), and the late Clair Johnson (Leonardville). The team won championships in 1958 and 1962 and other teams Doc played on won national titles in 1994 and 1996. In 2000, Doc was inducted into the Kansas Amateur Softball Association (ASA). His brother Don was inducted as a player also in 1990 and his father Ivan was inducted in 2001 as a softball manager.
This love of softball led Doc to coach the Coronado (Lubbock, Texas) women’s summer team, Pony Express, in 1999. Doc donated money and dedicated many hours to the summer program and worked with the players, especially the pitcher , during the break. -season. “She went out of her way to help athletes succeed,” said Doc’s brother Don. “He was also a mentor and was a great friend of JJ Johnson, the softball coach at Coronado High School.”
When Darrell ‘Doc’ Rosenow died in October 2009, the Coronado softball family lost a man of great character and integrity who was dedicated to the development of the women’s softball program. Doc was nicknamed “Angel on the Field” and on February 22, 2011, Coronado High School’s softball field was named DARRELL ‘DOC’ ROSENOW FIELD.
Don Rosenow threw out the ceremonial first pitch on the field named after his brother, as everyone in attendance released red balloons in Doc’s honor.
The plaque on the softball field reads:
“Doc was a rare and selfless person, but above all an example of great character and integrity. He passed away after a sudden illness on October 10, 2009, but the lessons and memories he instilled in those around him will live on forever.
“Doc had a long career as a fastpitch softball player, specifically as a pitcher, in Texas and Kansas. He played in several national tournaments winning titles in 1994 and 1996. He is a member of the Kansas ASA Hall of Fame. His love of the game led him to begin coaching Coronado’s summer team, Pony Express, in 1999. He continued to oversee the summer and fall teams for a decade.
“It was in his nature to help people and he dedicated his life’s work to improving the growth of grain sorghum in developing areas of the world and for home use. His research and experimentation have led to genetically improved grain sorghum being used in agriculture nationally and as food that feeds 500 million people internationally.
“The Coronado Softball program would like to honor the life of this incredible man, not only for his accomplishments, but for the impact he had on the girls he coached and anyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He will always be with us in the field and in our hearts. Doc is truly our “Angel” in the Outfield.”
