Sam Caldwell of Lively Productions

[BigEvil]

I found this on MCB and thought I would pass it on to the AO community.

The thread can be found HERE

I don't know if this is the correct spot to post, this if not will one of the Mods be kind enough to place it in the propper spot.

Sam Caldwell passed away yesterday,after a long illness, at his home in Nashville Tn.Sam was the man who handled the logistics for Lively Productions.Where Jim was the front man that everyone remembers, Sam was the man who made sure that everything was in order and flowed smoothly.
Sam was one of the people who brought paintball out of the back of pickup trucks and into the sport that we know today.Sam was a longtime partner and friend of Jim Lively they opened the Nashville Survial Games in 1983 in Williamson county Tn.
Sam was one of the founding team members of the Nashville Ridgerunners that formed in 1983.Sam was one of the fastest shots with a 007 that I have ever seen and he shot lefthand which was no small feat with a 007.
The industry has lost one of its founding fathers a will be hard pressed to fill the spot left vacant by this man.
It is with pride that I can say that I was a teammate of Sams and he will be long remembered as one who would always hold his ground in a game.

[warbeak2099]

Man, I thought he was going to get better. He seemed to be responding well to the treatments last I heard. He will surely be missed and remembered.

I feel bad because Rudz and I had spoken about doing something to let him know how important he is to paintballers and how much we appreciate what he did for our sport. We can't do that now, but we can definitely do something big to remember him by. It is the right thing to do and IMO we absolutely need to do it. We all should definitely discuss something.

I posted this over on Pbn in the news section:

http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=2817959

[DevilMan]

RIP Sam and we'll see you on the other side.

DM

[AGD]

I just got the word myself and came here to make a post. I will sticky this in memory of a great guy and a pillar in the paintball community. I talked with Jim Lively a few days ago and asked him if Sam had ever read the posts to him here on AO. He said he had and it brought a tear to his eye. Thanks AO for remembering him before it was too late.

AGD

[sandfreestyle]

He will be missed dearly.

[mr doo doo]

May Caldwell rest in peace. he's done a great deed for the paintball community, and it'll be remembered.

[Smoothice]

I HATE CANCER

Rest In Peace.


I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took God's hand when I heard the call,
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me -
God wanted me now, God set me free.

unknown

[Old S.O.B.]

Very sad day for paintball.

[Temo Vryce]

I never had the chance to meet Sam, but I do know that I have felt the affects of his influence on the sport we all love to play.

[warbeak2099]

I just got the word myself and came here to make a post. I will sticky this in memory of a great guy and a pillar in the paintball community. I talked with Jim Lively a few days ago and asked him if Sam had ever read the posts to him here on AO. He said he had and it brought a tear to his eye. Thanks AO for remembering him before it was too late.

AGD

That alone is truly heartwarming. At least we know that he went with full knowledge of how loved he was. I'm so glad to hear this. Tom, if there's anything that you or Jim could think of, you know we here would all jump at the chance to do something great in remembrance of Sam.

[Old S.O.B.]

Just to give you an idea how popular Sam was - I have not been able to get on PBNation for 2 hours because there were over 2200 people talking about him and the thread was overloaded.

[Rudz]

RIP man, you will be missed

[mabb1975]

I met him in 99 at a Lively Event in Tenn. Both him and Jim were extremely nice and easy to talk to even with their busy shedule at the event. Its always a sad day when someone who gave so much of themselves, without worry of recognition, for something they believe in. He was one of the founders of the sport we call paintball as it is today. I only hope that the sport can see more people of his caiber. R.I.P Sam, God Bless to you, for all you have done and to your family in this tough time.

[kansas kaos]

It's always sad when a person of this caliber and stature passes, and just a little more so when it's a member of the Caldwell Clan.... RIP.

[skipdogg]

Thanks for all your contributions to the sport Sam.