On October 9, 1980 it was decided to incorporate and become Williamsburg Junior Athletic Association. This was also the date that Girls Softball was added to the WJAA umbrella. Until that time Knothole baseball and girls softball had operated under totally separate programs. It was felt that all our children would benefit if we worked together. Tom Lefker was named to the 1st President of WJAA. Until that time there were only 3 fields that teams played on near the High School Football field. From October 1980-81 the organization intensified its searched for property that would accommodate our needs.

     

   Mr. Harold Flannery was contacted requesting assistance with locating affordable property in our area. Mr. Flannery purchased the 24 acres on Old St. Rt 32 for approximately $50,000.00 with the intent to sell it to WJAA for $1.00. Though officially the donation came to us as a donation from CECOS International, WJAA's benefactor was Mr. Harold Flannery.

The official transfer of the deed took place on February 6, 1982 on what is now Field #2. Ron Oester from the Cincinnati Reds presented the deed to President Tom Lefker. With this deed WJAA agreed that the property would be for the sole use of activities for the YOUTH of the Williamsburg Community and that CECOS is to be know as the donor on the WJAA Sports Complex Sign displayed at the front of our fields.

   

   The first effort to raise money on the property was a Turkey shoot on October 6, 1981. With intense efforts to raise money for the construction of a concession stand and playing fields a committee was formed to oversee the development. Those committee members consisted of: Tom Lefker, Bob Jones, John Maklem, Leonard Glover, Hank Lung, Gary Stowell, Dave Harris, Dan Jones, Jim Jones, Dave Collier, Morris Adkins, Mike Pope and Gary Bradley. Through donations of equipment from Jim Sauls, Hank Lung's expertise and use of equipment from the Ohio Operating Engineers, engineering donated by Dave Santoro, materials provided at their costs by Lykins Lumber and Manager Sue Cummins and with donations, fundraisers and help of many volunteers the WJAA concession stand and 5 ball fields were built from nothing. 

 

   WJAA truly was a labor of love by many, many individuals. The construction of the WJAA Sports Complex became the passion of entire families. Coaches became carpenters, block layers and concrete finishers. This was a great group of people to be involved with and involved they were!

 

   WJAA's numbers grew to 17 knothole and softball teams by 1984. Basketball was added in the winter of  1982-83 under the direction of Tom Lefker and Elmer Jones. Soccer was added in 1983 under the direction of Dr. Paul Russell. The hope was that some day the acreage beyond the Haunted Woods would be cleared for soccer fields.

 

  In order to insure that any child, regardless of financial capability, who wanted to play WJAA sports, could afford our fees, WJAA developed a policy of annual fundraisers and KIDS DAY was added as a summer event. The Haunted woods was the brainstorm of the Lung Family (Hank, Nick, Susan Hiler, Ben and Diane Vaughn). I was great fun to visit their family farm and see their haunted woods and to bring their vision and ingenuity to what became WJAA's largest fundraiser.

 

    Along with the annual fundraisers WJAA held horse shows, sold hot dogs at River fest and never missed having a booth at any local event. It was a very busy time. The end result was a Sports Complex and Organization that Williamsburg can be proud of.

 

     Tom Lefker served as President for 9 years and it was under his leadership, and with the help of many others who were willing to serve as officers and coaches, WJAA continued the goal of providing quality athletic programs for the youth of Williamsburg. Though there are so many people who contributed and continue to contribute to WJAA's history it should be noted that Jim Addision was our first FULL time volunteer who, for many years, kept our fields dragged and grass mowed. Tom Poole eventually took over the job and the tradition of true volunteerism continued.

   

    In 2005, Tracy Coffey was elected as the first woman President of WJAA she served as President until November of 2007. In 2007 the second generation of parents, the kids who played at WJAA during it's infancy, took the reigns as Tom Lefker's son Scott Lefker became President. We hope WJAA will be around for several generations to come.   

 

     WJAA is representative of the spirit of Williamsburg and the designated mission statement from the time of it's creation has been: "The purpose of the Williamsburg Junior Athletic Association is to teach our young people the understanding of sportsmanship, fair play, working together and the opportunity to fulfill some goals in their young lives and extend these ideals into adult careers." This purpose lives on today.