Sam Caldwell, Paintball Icon has Lung Cancer

[Junkie]

For those of you that have been around more than a decade, you will know the name Sam Caldwell. Sam was Jim Lively’s partner in the tournament business throughout the 80’s and 90’s. I was greatly disturbed today to find out he has inoperable lung cancer ( and he doesn’t even smoke). Sam never sought the spotlight and was not one to force his opinion on others. The thing he was incredible at was taking an idea and making it HAPPEN. He brought computer integration to paintball tournaments, was the first to figure scheduling so teams would not be playing back to back. He and Jim brought us out of the patch-o-woods without porta-johns into real venues with pavement and lights. All that tournament paintball is today started with Jim and Sam and a ton of that was Sam typing on the keyboard and making sure things worked out.

Through it all Sam was super dedicated to the sport. We would take walks at night from our hotel at tournaments just to spend an hour talking about how to solve tournament problems and make them better. After a long day of listening to players complain and myriad other issues, he WANTED to keep talking about paintball's future. A finer man in paintball would be hard to find. Unfortunately the players had other ideas and formed the NPPL which turned into just another company dominated organization and moved away from the Lively series.

Sam never married and has no family besides relatives. I know he probably doesn’t think that any of the players around today remember or care about him. I think that the people here on AO are special enough to care if you did know him or appreciate his contribution if you didn’t. It would be really nice if you would all post some nice comments and I can point him here to read them. He has become reclusive with this illness and doesn’t even answer the phone.

Thanks from the old guard,

Tom Kaye

automags.org

[Shaggy]

Hey now i'll admit i'd never known much bout him. heared of him but thats about it. but, that doesn't mean he isn't important. i think his contributions are important.. I thank him for his work and am sorry for his illness and pray for him.

[USArmyManOfWar]

Yes, let's keep Sam in our prayers

[patrickstar]

hey dedicated a tournament in his name. A two day game

[patrickstar]

hey i think that any paintball player that made a big mipact on paintball sould be remeber him and for the things that he did for the sport.

[SirRod]

I had the pleasur of playing in the 93 Masters Jim and Sam Put on. The team I was on won the state Championchip and was invited to play there. We took 3rd place in the Amature Division. Met Jim and Sam both. They are wonderful guys and Im saddened to hear of Sam's illness. Sam is a fighter and im Praying for You every day now that I know of your illness. Hang in there baby you can overcome this.
God Bless You Sam,Familly and Friends. Keep the Faith!
Rich keep us posted
All My Best

[claydirt]

Sam, You are a True Pioneer in our sport. Thank You. You are in my prayers, Sir Rod is RIGHT, YOU CAN OVERCOME THIS!