The genesis of The Ledger began years ago, long before many of our readers were born.

Dale Messmer was a shaggy-haired young editor in the sports department of a major metropolitan newspaper. And like all good editors, he questioned things.

Why were the feats of an athlete who played on a high school team publicized, but the same athlete on a club team receives no recognition?

For instance, if an athlete won a track event at the state high school championship, that would be deemed worthy of prominent coverage. That was fine. If the same athlete won an event at an invitational in California against a far better field, though, it might not even garner a sentence.

In fact, wouldn’t it be nice, he thought, if we could give recognition to all young athletes, not just high-school age athletes, for their accomplishments?

When he brought up these questions with his bosses, the response was always the same.

“Get a haircut.”

Dale eventually left the newspaper business to start his own publishing company. He later home-schooled his son Matt, who became involved in youth hockey.

Dale worked on a plan to bring an ice rink to Peoria. The plan for the ice rink failed, although someone else built one on the site Dale’s group proposed.

Matt went off to college in Ohio, and Dale was left with time on his hands. He began to think about his earlier ideas to publicize the accomplishments of young athletes.

He had done some work with Randy Stoltz, a respected financial advisor who helps families find ways to make the dream of a college education more affordable. Randy liked the idea of a Web publication devoted to youth sports.

They decided to test the idea in the Arcadia neighborhood with the Little League’s minors division, where one of Randy’s sons played. The test was a big success.

One youngster would print and clip articles from The Ledger then tape them to his headboard so he could sleep under them.

One mother, who also home-schooled her son, told us that she didn’t have a computer at home, partly to motivate her son to visit the library. It didn’t work without a fight. Thanks to The Ledger, however, he was going three times a week. No arguments.

“When I hear stories like this,’’ Dale said, “I know this is a successful venture, even if we never make a dime.”

The Ledger has expanded its coverage to include club softball and baseball, the soccer State Cup, the Catholic Youth Athletic Association and more. Our dream is to build an on-line youth sports community that provides recognition for the accomplishments of all young athletes in the metro area.

If you are involved in a sport or a league as an athlete, parent, coach, administrator or fan and would like your kids included in The Ledger, contact us to find out how. You can phone or e-mail.

Or if you happen to see Dale (he’s a heavy-set fellow with a pony-tail, and he’s usually carrying a camera) you can just shout, “Hey, Ledger Guy!”

And while you’re at it, tell him to get a haircut.