This picture of Buck O'Neil is a composite of the 2007 Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat winners. Click on the picture to enlarge it. (Kansas City Royals)

• 2007 Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat Honorees
• 2008 Nomination Form

Or, have you ever come across Dr. S.P. Jothi while visiting Parsons, Kan.? He's to credit for the success of Parsons' free medical clinic that was started 11 years ago.

Then there is Johnnie Matz, who knows a thing or two about clinics. Maybe you've seen him at the Community Blood Center, where he has donated more than 63 gallons of blood - more than any other donor in Kansas City.

There is no denying that Juli, Dr. Jothi and Johnnie are three extraordinary people from the Greater Kansas City area who have turned a passion for helping others into something more. They are also three members of a select group of extraordinary people that we had the pleasure of meeting at Kauffman Stadium as they helped to honor the memory of a Kansas City Legend and Royals friend, Buck O'Neil.

The Royals had 81 home games this season. And, for each of those home games, Buck O'Neil's red stadium seat -- section 101, row C, seat one -- never went empty. Game after game, a member of the community sat in Buck's seat, honoring Buck's memory by being recognized for their impact on their neighbors.

When the Royals announced the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat program this past January, no one was quite sure what kind of response the club would receive from the community. Then the nominations started rolling in, and throughout the 162-game season, they did not stop.

We had people nominate long-time scoutmasters (Dan Barnes, Raymore, Mo.), army chaplains (Rev. Sam Sanford, Leavenworth, Kan.), youth basketball coaches (Dalton Vann, Blue Springs, Mo.), American Red Cross volunteers (Susan Schular, Kansas City, Kan.) and Kansas City icons (Tony DiPardo). We had people nominate grandmothers (Evelyn Hurbert, Overland Park, Kan.), fathers (Mark Hoduski - Royals Father of the Year), grandfathers (Pete Graham, Sr., Independence, Mo.) and Sisters (Sisters Berta and Corita from Operation Breakthrough, Kansas City, Mo.). The Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City (Roy Morrill), a hospice clinical director for Crossroads (Terry McCaffery), the Director of Marketing for the Negro League Baseball Museum (Bob Kendrick), the President/CEO of Cornerstones for Care (Paul Gemeinhardt) and the coordinators for Wheels That Care (Bob and Shirley Legg). Firefighters (five Waldo, Mo., firefighters), retired sergeants (1st Sgt. Albert Curley) and an anonymous kidney donor (Debra Callaway).

The list of accomplishments, achievements and acts of kindness goes on and on, each nominated person bringing a different story to the table and a different, but lasting impact on the community. In the end, we had so many outstanding community members brought to our attention that we did not have enough home games to honor every outstanding nominee. Therefore, we cannot help but continue the Buck O'Neil Legacy Seat program next season, carrying on Buck's legacy in our community by honoring the great people that work to make Kansas City a better place.