Jack Christian M. Bicher 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Born: 22 Jan 1934, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA 1
- Marriage (1): Grace Irene Schaeffer on 25 Aug 1951 in , Lebanon, PA 1
- Died: 20 Mar 2013, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA at age 79 1
- Buried: Mount Zion: Zion Gosherts Cemetery, Lebanon, PA 1
Another name for Jack was John C. Bicher.
FamilySearch ID: L8BB-GSK.
Noted events in his life were:
1. Census in 1950 in Jackson Twp., Lebanon, PA. 8 The 1950 census recorded Morris S. Bicher, die cutter in shirt factory, 38, living with wife Freda E., 42; Jack M., 16; Glenda E., 7; Glenn M., 5. Also in the home is Freda's mother, Josephine May, 70. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.
2. Occupation: bricklayer in 1960 in Myerstown, Lebanon, PA.
3. Newspaper: 8 Oct 1962, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. 9 Lebanon Daily News, Monday October 8, 1962. Page 17.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack C. Bicher of 207 W. Main St., Myerstown, became the parents of a son at 11:45 p.m. on Friday in the Good Samaritan Hospital. The mother, prior to marriage, was Grace S. Schaeffer. The father is employed by J. B. Minnich, contractor.
4. Residence: on 13 Oct 1969 in Myerstown, Lebanon, PA. 6
5. Residence: 207 W. Main Ave., Myerstown, PA on 16 Jul 1974 in Myerstown, Lebanon, PA. 10
6. Residence: on 6 Dec 1976 in Myerstown, Lebanon, PA. 3
7. Residence: 207 W. Main Avenue, Myerstown, PA on 24 Jun 1984 in Myerstown, Lebanon, PA. 7
8. Newspaper: Daily News: Bicher's 26 Years of Coaching, 12 Aug 1989, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. Jack Bicher has four boys and three grandsons, but the boys he has been like a father to numbers in the hundreds. Bicher has been coaching Myerstown's American Legion baseball team for 26 years and has been actively involved in baseball for 35 years. Bicher was elected to the Pennsylvania American Legion Sports Hall of Fame last October and was feted recently along with 11 other inductees at a banquet in their honor at State College during the State Legion finals. Members of the legion, family and personal friends accompanied Bicher to State College. "I feel like I have a good relationship with the boys, said Bicher.
"The way I look at it, kids nowadays have to be involved in something, whether its sports or the band. I guess thats one of the reasons that I coach. I think baseball helps keep the kids off the streets and keeps them out of trouble. I love the game and really enjoy working with the boys. I like to see them mature both mentally and physically."
Under Bicher's guidance, Myerstown has won numerous Lebanon County American Legion titles, the last coming in 1985. "After you're at it long enough the kids know how you operate and they come to expect it," said Bicher. "I think thats why you see (Fredericksburg manager Marlin) Spangler and myself battling at the top of the league every year, because our kids know what to expect from us. Were fortunate here at Myerstown to have had some good ball players come here." Besides coaching, Bicher has been responsible for raising the funds to support both the legion and junior legion programs in Myerstown for the past ten years.
In September of 1985, the Myerstown Legion recognized him for his years of service at their annual baseball banquet with a lifetime membership. In 1987, the Elco school district honored him for his contribution to athletics within the Elco school district at their annual sports banquet. "I wouldnt have the patience to coach midgets," said Bicher. "When you're coaching 16-18 year olds, I can curse every once in awhile and the boys wont be offended. Junior legion is in the middle somewhere of those two extremes."
"I just got involved with legion ball and I stuck with it. When you play for Myerstown you play for me and the way I coach. Its my way or the highway." At 55, Bicher said he isn't quite sure when he's going to call it quits. But the thought has entered his mind on more than one occasion.
"I question at times if somebody younger shouldnt take over the program," said Bicher. "I've had no regrets, none what so ever. There comes a time when you say what the heck, but I've been saying that for the last four or five years that I'm going to quit. I guess as long as I have the urge in the spring I'm going to keep on doing it. There are those who say Lebanon County baseball is in trouble, that softball is pushing baseball to the point of extinction."
"Midget and teener baseball in Lebanon is healthy, but the number of people playing legion and twilight are down compared to the past. Its getting to be a problem getting players because of work, cars and other sports," said Bicher. "Years ago kids would play baseball and that's it. I get 18 boys at the beginning of the season and I know at least a couple are going to quit. But a majority like the game and you know you can depend on them."
"Some of it has to do with baseballs relationship with the public," continued Bicher. "The legion program has to do a better job selling itself to the kids. I think another part of it is coaches are becoming too specialized. Myerstown is a big soccer area and kids are soccer players and thats it. They say to themselves, I cant go anywhere in baseball."
"I'm going to concentrate on soccer. Softball is another sport thats hurting baseball, because there's so much of it around. Now kids who are 16 are starting to play softball. You see less kids in three sports today," added Bicher, "because the coach stresses his sport that much. And thats hurting baseball more than any other sport."
"Most major athletes have played two or three sports. There's a lot of things we have to teach kids about baseball at the legion level. Its surprising how much they dont know about the game and its finer points."
9. Obituary: on 22 Mar 2013 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. 1 Lebanon Daily News, March 22, 2013:
Jack C.M. Bicher
MYERSTOWN - Jack C.M. Bicher, 79, died Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Lebanon. He was the husband of Grace I. (Schaeffer) Bicher, to whom he would have been married 62 years on August 25. Born in Lebanon on January 22, 1934, he was the son of the late Morris S. and Freda (May) Bicher. A 1951 graduate of Myerstown High School, he was employed as a mason at Stewart Masonry, Lebanon, for 14 years, retiring in 1995. He also worked for numerous masonry contractors in Lebanon and Lancaster Counties and did estimates for general contractors. He was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church, Myerstown, and played and coached the Myerstown Patriots and Legion Seniors for which he was instrumental in starting the Little League program. He served as past president of the Lebanon County Twilight League and vice president of the Lebanon County Legion League, was an inductee into the Pennsylvania Legion Sports Hall of Fame, the central chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the Lebanon Valley Sports Hall of Fame. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Myerstown American Legion, the ELCO medallion for his contribution to sports, and the Good Neighbor Award from the Myerstown community in 1996. He was also a member and past president of the Myerstown Lions Club and served 35 years on the Myerstown Water Authority as both president and treasurer, and was a lifetime member of the Goodwill Fire Company and a member of Myerstown VFW Post 6076. He enjoyed traveling, bowling, golf, gardening, reading, and working on the Legion baseball field. In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons, Gary, husband of Renee Bicher of Myerstown, Douglas, husband of Deborah Bicher of Myerstown, Dane, husband of Stephanie Bicher of Myerstown, Greg Bicher of Harrisburg; grandchildren, Braden, Jordan, Matthew, Allison, Zane, Roya, Nathan, Devan, and Isaac; a great granddaughter, Ella; a sister, Glenda, wife of Arthur Yohn of Myerstown; a brother, Glenn, husband of Marcia Bicher of Myerstown; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 2 p.m. from Myerstown Church of the Brethren, 51 W. Stoever Ave., Myerstown. Viewing Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the church. Interment will be held at a future time at Zion "Goshert's" Cemetery, Mt. Zion. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Myerstown Baseball Inc., c/o Gary Bicher, 29 Maple Lane, Myerstown, PA 17067. Grose Funeral Home, Myerstown, is entrusted with the arrangements.
Jack married Grace Irene Schaeffer, daughter of William Harry Schaeffer and Helen Hannah Hertzog, on 25 Aug 1951 in , Lebanon, PA.1 (Grace Irene Schaeffer was born on 16 Dec 1938 in Myerstown, Lebanon, PA.)
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