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Paul R. Gierhart

Paul Gierhart (41) is married to Susan (his wife of 22 years) and is a father of three boys (Aaron-18, Adam-15 & Seth-10). Gierhart works as the Manager of the Sprocket Division for Allied-Locke Industries, Inc. in Dixon, IL.

Gierhart, who has written for TPA since it's very beginnings, covers stories from autograph collecting for beginners, to interviews with many players. His most noteable interview subject was Mark Prior. The whole process of this interview started with a super nice gesture on Prior's part - a signed 2000 USC yearbook. Next Gierhart made contact with Prior as a result of a Top Prospect Alert reader giving him Prior's web site address. Gierhart e-mailed Prior to thank him for the signature and asked for an interview. Prior explained between school and practice he didn't have a lot of free time. Meanwhile Prior's SID (Assistant Sports Information Director - Jason Pommier) advised interviews would have to go through him. Pommier explained USC's policy is that all interview requests must go through the Sports Information Office and there were limitations on Internet website interviews. Gierhart proceeded to contact Pommier via fax. It was explained Top Prospect Alert's focus was drawing attention to the top baseball talent in the country and articles for the site were written for fun. Pommier forwarded the questions to Prior and what followed was an interview on Mark Prior posted a week before Baseball America's.

When Gierhart is not putting pen to paper, he attends all the home games at Clinton, Iowa (the home of the Lumberkings - Low A team for the Texas Rangers). When attending games he enjoys photographing players. Noteable subjects from the 2004 season were John Danks, Thomas Diamond, Ian Kinsler, etc... Gierharts photographic work has been featured on several 2004 Just Minors trading cards and rumor has it for the 2005 Clinton Lumberkings game program.

Gierhart, grew up in Sterling, IL, and is a Sterling High School graduate. He attended Sauk Valley Community College and graduated with an Associates Degree in Mechanical Design.

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