- Gene Chidester, 76, fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a batboy.
- He joined the Salt Lake Bees as a dugout attendant at age 73.
- Chidester enjoys the role, despite the long commute and cleaning cleats.
SALT LAKE CITY — Seventy-six-year-old Gene Chidester has experienced a lot in his life. He’s had two separate but equally successful careers, first in the tech industry with Hewlett-Packard, then in private business with a dietary supplements company. He’s lived in Oregon and Utah and spent three years in Uruguay as a Latter-day Saint mission president. He’s currently on the advisory board for the Center of Hope Food Pantry and serving on the Communications Committee (formerly Public Affairs) for the Church of Jesus Christ. He and his wife, Robyn, have raised five children and spoiled 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. They have a vacation cabin outside of Heber City.
But until four years ago, there was one experience he hadn’t had.
He’d never been a batboy…