Looking Back: A Grain Valley Original

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

​     Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) was an educational program that was founded in Los Angeles in 1983 as a joint initiative of then-LAPD chief Daryl Gatesand and the Los Angeles Unified School District as a drug control strategy of the American War on Drugs.  
     Did you know that by 1994 the D.A.R.E. program included over 25 million kids in 25 countries, but the only ball team authorized to have D.A.R.E. on their uniform as a sponsor was located in Grain Valley, Missouri?
     Chris Pratt was the volunteer coordinator of the local program. At that time he was also actively involved in support of the summer baseball programs in Grain Valley. He approached D.A.R.E. National, for permission to use the logo.
     Their only requirement was that the city relieve them of any liabilities and the city cooperated. Chris Pratt, his wife Beth, and Scott Hedger were the coaches.
 
The Grain Valley Team
Row 1: Jeremy Bowling, Chris Steele, Tim Dorman.
Row 2: Ryan Wilfong, Matt Richard, Nathan Meyer, Alec Driscoll,
Row 3: Coach Chris Pratt, Michael Pratt, Aaron Veatch, Brandon Smith, Cody Montgomery, Coach Beth Pratt, Coach Scott Hedger.