A FEW weeks ago, George Smith announced he was stepping down after 36 years as the athletics director at Manchester's Henry J. Sweeney American Legion Post. An era had ended, but fortunately for the post, another one was starting as former Sweeney baseball player Paul Lemire took over the program.

Three years ago, another era ended when Bill Allen announced he was stepping down as director of the Queen City Hall of Fame after 20 years. Unlike Sweeney Post, the Queen City Hall of Fame had no successor in the leadership position. Since it held its last banquet in 2009, the Queen City Hall has been dormant.

There are 259 people enshrined in the Queen City Hall of Fame. Many more deserving coaches, officials, athletes and administrators worthy of recognition for their accomplishments remain officially unrecognized.

And unless a new committee is formed with a capable leader in place, the Queen City Hall of Fame will become extinct.

Many former committee members — including Allen, Bob Chabot, Clem Lemire, Frank Harlan, Butch Joseph, Bob Kerrigan, Hubie McDonough Jr., all of whom served for years — either physically can't do the work anymore or just don't have the time needed to organize the event.

“Bill Allen was the driving force, but once he decided to step down, no one wanted to fill his shoes,” said Harlan. “It's that simple. There's a lot that goes into it. It's not just showing up for one meeting and selecting people for the Hall.

“For a good six months leading up to the banquet in June, you've got to have people working on raising money for scholarships, accepting and reviewing nominations, planning for a program book, detailing the agenda for the banquet and making sure the people selected to the Hall are contacted and willing to accept the honor. There's a whole lot going on behind the scenes. Bill Allen was one of those people who put the time and energy into it.”

In addition, Harlan noted, the committee also selected a male and female graduating student from each of the four city high schools and presented them with a $750 scholarship for college. The scholarships were funded by the sales of ads for the banquet program.

“Let me tell you, getting and selling the ads was a very tough job,” Harlan said.

No one handled it better than Allen, who said, “We never had any big sponsors. We'd charge $150 for half a page in the program book. Our goal each year was to raise $6,000, and it wasn't easy. But we did it. Since the start of the Hall of Fame in 1989, we raised over $120,000 for scholarships and the program.”

Harlan said Toni Pappas was in charge of the program book and “did a tremendous job over the years.”

Allen said he'd be willing to sit down with anyone who has the time and ambition to continue the Queen City Hall of Fame.

“Things change, and time moves on,” he said. “Even good things come to an end. But I'd sit down with anyone who'd have the time to continue the work needed to keep the Hall of Fame going. It's a lot of work, but it's very gratifying at the same time to honor people who contributed something positive to the city of Manchester.”

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It's been six years since Manchester youth football player Ricky McGregor died suddenly at the age of 12, but his memory lives on.

Donati Field in Hooksett will be hosting the Ricky McGregor Hurricane Kickoff Classic today.

A total of 30 games will be played as the Classic runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Teams competing in the Tiny Mite, Mitey Mite, Pee Wee and Junior Pee Wee divisions include the Bedford Bulldogs, Manchester Eagles, Hooksett Hurricanes, Concord Vipers, Seacoast Titans, Rockingham County Cougars, Hampstead Wildcats, Seabrook Rams, Merrimack Cardinals and Oakmont, Mass.

On May 26, 2006, Ricky McGregor died while playing during recess at the Deerfield Community School.

As a quarterback for the Manchester Eagles, Ricky had thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and led his squad to the state Pop Warner championship.

Ricky McGregor Sr. said his son's twin nephews, Michael and Andrew, who were 6 months old when their uncle died, will be playing for the Manchester Eagles Tiny Mites. Michael will be playing quarterback, Andrew starting at tight end.

In recent years, Ricky's parents, Rick Sr., and Sherry, have held a scholarship fundraiser in their son's name to help raise money for local athletes.

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TODAY will be a busy sports day in Manchester.

The Queen City girls' soccer jamboree will begin at 9 a.m. at West Memorial Field. Manchester Memorial will play two consecutive games, beginning at 9:45 a.m. Manchester Central hits the field at noon and 3 p.m.. Trinity will compete at 12:45 and 2:15 p.m., and Manchester West has the late games, beginning at 4 p.m.

The 33rd annual Manchester Memorial boys' soccer alumni game starts at 1 p.m. at Chabot-McDonough Field, located behind the high school.

The 49th annual Manchester One-Pitch Softball League tournament will stage games throughout the day at Wolfe Park and Brown and Mitchell Field.

On Sunday, the Queen City boys' soccer jamboree kicks off at 9 a.m. at West Memorial Field.

And don't forget next week's second annual Playing for a Purpose Field Hockey Jamboree. Staged to help raise money for cancer research, it will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday at Chabot-McDonough. Last season, the jamboree raised more than $10,000, and organizers including cancer survivor Christine Freitas are hopeful they will surpass that figure this year.

jhabib@unionleader.com