After providing 35 years of leadership in the Lynchburg Hillcats front office, team president Paul Sunwall has officially retired.
A two-time Carolina League Executive of the Year in 1995 and 2009, Sunwall was the longest-tenured front office member in the league. Sunwall served as the team’s President and Chief Financial Officer for the past two seasons. Prior to that, he held the title of General Manager for 26 years after being the Assistant General Manager for his first seven seasons with the club.
“I’m very thankful I had the opportunity to work as long I did in this profession,” Sunwall said. “I enjoyed seeing fans, being at the ballpark, and the sport itself. It has been an amazing 35 years.”
For more than three decades, Sunwall’s name has been intertwined with professional baseball in Lynchburg. Sunwall first formed a connection with the Lynchburg Mets front office in 1980 while working as the Assistant Manager of Hills Department Store in Lynchburg. Sunwall attended Mets games with his wife Barbara using Hills Department Store’s season tickets that came with their advertising package. At games, Sunwall built relationships with some of the staff, and with his business management background, he was hired to be the team’s Assistant General Manager shortly thereafter.
Sunwall’s first role included hiring gameday staff as well as managing concessions, souvenirs, and the clubhouses. He was one of only three full-time employees in the front office. After his second year as AGM, Lynchburg Baseball Corp., offered stock to Sunwall and he became part of the ownership group. He was promoted to General Manager in 1988 and assumed the title of President and CFO before the 2014 season.
In addition to his time with the Hillcats, Sunwall also demonstrated leadership in the community and for his country. Sunwall served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968 to 1972 before graduating from Southwest Minnesota State University with a degree in business administration in 1975. Originally from Iowa, Sunwall became a staple in the Lynchburg community through a variety of ways, including time as the President of the Kiwanis Club and Vice-Chairman on the Board of Directors for Partners in Education, just to name a couple.
Elmore Sports Group has agreed in principle to purchase the Hillcats from Lynchburg Baseball Corp., with a new lease to keep the team at City Stadium for the next 10 years.
“I am pleased with the potential of this new ownership group,” Sunwall said when the ownership transition began. “Elmore Sports Group has a vision to make considerable improvements to the parking and field soon as well as invest in future upgrades. These should all benefit the fans, players, community, and Lynchburg City Stadium complex.”
Chris Jones has been named the new President of the Lynchburg Hillcats. Sunwall and Jones have been working together for the past two months to help ease the transition. Jones’ resume includes stints as the Vice President and General Manager of the Advanced-A Lake Elsinore Storm as well as General Manager of the Atlantic League’s Sugar Land Skeeters.
Share
Contributors
