Kannapolis Park Named in Memory of Mr. Barry Lentz

The Kannapolis City Council has named the former Dixie Youth Baseball Park on Pleasant Avenue, Lentz Park, in memory of Mr. Barry Lentz. A native of Kannapolis, Mr. Lentz passed away earlier this year. Mr. Lentz was instrumental in the lives of thousands of Kannapolis children through the game of baseball and in the classroom as a science teacher.

He was an umpire in the Kannapolis Dixie Youth Baseball organization for over 30 years. For the past 15 years, he served as an umpire in the Dixie Youth/Diamond Youth Baseball World Series and made lifelong friends across the southeastern states. He also was active as a high school and college umpire and board member in the Carolina's Baseball Umpires Association. In 2023, he was awarded the Dick Knox Distinguished Service Award for officials by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

After a career in textiles, Mr. Lentz returned to school and obtained a B.S. degree in secondary education and a master’s in school administration from UNCC. He began a second career as a science teacher at A.L. Brown High School.

Mr. Lentz was active in his church, Mount Olivet United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Ute, and his children, and grandchildren.