Softball Newfoundland Labrador
Hall of Fame Inductees (Umpires Category)
BIO’S FOR HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES-UMPIRES (Alphabetical Order)
ROY DAVIS, GRAND FALLS
(Umpire – Inducted in 1994)
Roy Davis played a major role in softball officiating in central Newfoundland. Working out of Grand Falls, for 20 years he was one of the early umpires who made it possible for a very large numberof championships and invitational tournaments to be held in the area, especially in Grand Falls.
He utilized his knowledge of softball rules and regulations, after a fine career in baseball officiating at the local level, and was very important in the early days of softball when the number of qualified umpires was very low and the number of games and tournaments was very high.
He was instrumental in the formation of an Umpires Association in Central Newfoundland, conducted umpire clinics, was regional umpire-in-chief and promoted and developed numerous officials from the area.
He officiated at the 1977 national junior female championships at the Canada Games and at the 1978 national junior male championships, both in St. John’s.
CHARLIE DAWE, UPPER GULLIES
(Umpire – Inducted in 1972)
Charlie Dawe made extremely important contributions to the establishment of softball on a provincial level and played a major role in the founding of Conception Bay South softball organization.
He was a member of the provincial softball executive from 1968 to 1977 and was named executive of the year for 1968.
In his own way, he worked hard as provincial registrar and commissioner while providing hours and hours as an umpire during a period of time when qualified softball umpires were very difficult to find. With several others, he often called 20 games or more during a tournament weekend, often as a volunteer.
ALEXANDER (DUEY) FITZGERALD, ST. JOHN’S
(Umpire – Inducted in 1975)
A career that included playing, coaching, officiating and organizing in three separate sports earned Alexander “Duey” Fitzgerald election to the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame. He excelled as a baseball player and five-pin bowler in the 1950’s prior to moving into baseball and later softball coaching with a great deal of success at the local, provincial and national levels of competition.
The amazing contributions that Alexander “Duey” Fitzgerald has made to sports is demonstrated by the fact that he has been elected to the National, Provincial and St. John’s Softball Halls of Fame, to the Provincial and St. John’s Baseball Halls of Fame and the Provincial Bowling Hall of Fame.
His umpiring began in baseball in 1964 and included the 1966 national championships. He moved to softball umpiring in 1968 and officiated and provided great leadership for this aspect of the game for more than 25 years.
His ability was recognized by Softball Canada when he was appointed to officiate at four national championships during his 18-year softball officiating career; and he was the founder of the St. John’s Metro Umpires Association in 1970 serving as its President.
He called plays in 66 provincial championships in addition to an extremely high number of local games.
He served as Provincial Umpire-in-Chief from 1968 to 1975 and was Provincial President for 1976 and 1977.
He is an Honorary Life Member of Softball Newfoundland and Labrador and filled the position of its Hall of Fame Chairman for 20 years.
As an executive, Alexander “Duey” Fitzgerald also filled a variety of positions for basketball, bowling and baseball.
Always willing to work hard with a great amount of expertise in a wide range of roles for a variety of major sports, Alexander “Duey” Fitzgerald was inducted into his seventh Hall of Fame, the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame November 20, 1993.
BOB GULLIVER, ST. JOHN’S
(Umpire – Inducted in 2019)
Bob Gulliver (St. John’s) was an active member of the Softball Community for 24-years.
Bob was an active member of the St. John’s Metro Umpires Association for 13-years. His first stint was 3-years (1975 to 1977) and his second stint was 10-years (1979 to 1988). He also served as Association Scheduler for 3-years from 1986 to 1988.
Bob represented Newfoundland Labrador at two Canadian National Fastpitch Championships. He worked the 1977 Junior Women’s Canadian Fastpitch Championship in St. John’s and the 1986 Junior Men’s Canadian Fastpitch Championship in St. John’s.
Bob obtained his Level III Umpires Designation in 1983 and was considered by many to be one of the top officials to ever call games in the province.
Bob was also a member of seven Organizing Committees for National Championships: Senior Men’s (1979 & 1989), Junior Men’s (1986 & 1991), Women’s (1982 & 1988) and Women’s Worlds (1994).
Bob served as Softball NL Commissioner for two-years in 1980 & 1981.
Bob was a founding member of the Cabot Street Minor Softball Association in 1979 serving as Vice-President. He was a member of two Inter Street Softball League Championship teams in 1972 & 1974 and served on the League Executive in 1971 as Secretary and 1974 & 1975 as Vice-President.
Bob played in the St. John’s Senior Men’s League for 7-years from 1977 to 1983. He was named winner of the Mike Byrd Memorial Award in recognition of his contribution to the success of the Senior League. He also served on the Senior League Executive as Player Representative for 3-years from 1982 to 1984.
BOB HICKEY, ST. JOHN’S
(Umpire – Inducted in 1999)
Bob Hickey was born in St. John’s but lived a great deal of his life in Torbay. After playing and coaching in Torbay for five seasons, he earned a highly respected position in the softball officiating history of Newfoundland and Labrador.
After joining the St. John’s Metro Umpires Association in 1979, he spent 16 very successful years officiating and served on the association executive for three years.
He umpired at seven important championships, including the 1994 World Women’s event. His six national championships were the 1980 Canadian Junior Men’s, the 1982 Canadian Senior Ladies, the 1988 Canadian Senior Men’s, the 1989 Canadian Junior Men’s, the 1991 Canadian Senior Ladies and the 1992 Canadian Senior Men’s.
In 1988 he received his Level 5 Umpiring Designation, only the second to receive it in the province and in 1987 and 1988 served as Provincial Umpire-in-Chief.
From 1973 to 1977, he was involved with the Torbay Senior Men’s Softball League as umpire, coach, player and executive including president in 1978.
In 1977 he coached Torbay to the provincial Intermediate A championship and he was named an Honorary Life Member of The Torbay Senior Softball League.
In 1971 he was the Mercantile League batting champ going 22-for-42 and a .523 batting average. He led the league in hits that year.
DAVE HOLLETT, ST. JOHN’S
(Umpire – Inducted in 1996)
A member of the St. John’s Metro Umpires Association for 16 years, Hollett served on the executive for four years. He was the first Newfoundland softball official to attain a National Level 5 Umpiring Designation, having officiated in seven national championships in junior and senior ladies, junior and senior men’s, as well as senior men’s slo-pitch and one youth world championship.
He was a member of four organizing committees of national championships hosted by the provincial softball association in St. John’s, and has served on the executive of the St. John’s Junior Softball League and the Commercial Softball League.
He played junior softball for four years and played senior ball for two years. A member of three St. John’s Junior championship teams, two provincial junior championship teams and one Commercial League championship team.
Hollett is an honorary life member of the St. John’s Metro Softball Umpires Association.
He is a member of the St. John’s Softball Hall of Fame.
JACK MCCARTHY, ST. JOHN’S
(Umpire – Inducted in 1974)
(Searching For Photo Of Jack McCarthy)
Jack McCarthy was one of the most dedicated and colorful umpires to ever call a softball game within Newfoundland and Labrador.
A veteran of numerous softball championships and tournaments during a ten-year period, he contributed in a big way when umpires were scarce in the early years of local and provincial softball.
A level four official, he was respected and well liked to such a high degree that the St. John’s Metro Umpires Association put a “Gentlemanly and Effective” Award in his memory when he died in 1973. Herb Andrews of the Inter-City League was the first recipient.
JIM SCHARPEGGE, GANDER
(Umpire – Inducted in 1972)
Softball was the preferred game with the Military Forces in Gander in the fifties and sixties, and the year after Jim Scharpegge arrived, in 1959, it was first organized into leagues. He became involved immediately, and began a long career of umpiring that continued for almost 25 years, until 1984.
He attended a National Umpiring Clinic in Gimli, Manitoba in the summer of 1963, making him one of the most qualified umpires in the province, and the most qualified in Gander. This meant that he was one of the very few who travelled province-wide to umpire all the provincial championships for close to 25 years.
Locally, at different times during those years, there were from four to eight softball teams in the Gander League, and he would umpire two or three games a week. He saw the sport of softball grow to number one in Gander with the support of the military, only to drop off dramatically when slo-pitch was introduced in the eighties.
He was inducted into the Gander Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
JIM SMITH, MANUELS
(Umpire – Inducted in 1973)
Jim Smith made many and varied contributions to softball during its founding period, especially as a highly respected umpire provincially and within Conception Bay South competition. His umpiring career lasted from 1966 to 1980.
He served as secretary of CBS softball from 1976 to 1978 and coached CBS male and female all-star teams between 1969 and 1973, being named Coach of the Year for 1971.
He was one of the first inductees into the Newfoundland and Labrador Softball Hall of Fame and was among the first inductees into the Conception Bay South Sports Hall of Fame.
RANDY SOULIERS, ST. JOHN’S
(Umpire – Inducted in 2009)
Randy Souliers’ valuable softball contributions were as an umpire and his impressive career covered 23 seasons, starting in 1982. His excellent officiating included more than 1,500 games on the diamond in league, provincial, national and international competition.
Highlighted by his service as Provincial Umpire-in-Chief from 1997 to 2000, his valuable contributions off the diamond were very important in the overall officiating structure. His leadership and indepth knowledge were excellent in the development of certified officials.
On a personal basis, his career included filling the Umpire-in-Chief position for more than 100 provincial championships, thus assuring teams and players of sound, solid officiating.
His officiating nationally began in 1989, when he called the Canadian Junior Men’s Championship. Overall, he has umpired at six of Softball Canada’s premiere events – the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship for 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2003.
His international assignments include the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, the International Softball Federation’s World Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2005, and the International Softball Congress’s World Club Championships in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 2005.
He revised the umpires’ training manuals and served as the deputy umpire in chief at three national fastpitch tournaments.
He was the umpire in chief for a senior men’s tournament in Nova Scotia in 2004 and was deputy UIC for Softball Canada from 2001 to 2004.
AUGUSTUS (GUS) WALTERS, ST. JOHN’S
(Umpire – Inducted in 1978)
While Augustus (Gus) Walters is best known for his tremendous contribution as an official, he has also served in several executive and organizing capacities with local and provincial softball. His umpiring career spanned 23 years and includes officiating at three national championships.
At the provincial level, he was umpire-in-chief during a 15-year period of executive duty for Softball Newfoundland. A founding member of the St. John’s Metro Umpires Association, he was president twice.
He was a member of six organizing committees for national championships and is a member of the Canadian Softball Hall of Fame.
His service includes serving on the selection committee for the St. John’s Softball Hall of Fame and on the executive of St. John’s junior, senior and civil service leagues. He is a level four national umpire.
He is a member of the St. John’s Softball Hall of Fame.
VINCE WITHERS, ST. JOHN’S
(Umpire – Inducted in 1972)
Mostly because of his work on behalf of softball, but also for his contributions to several other sports, Vince Withers was elected to the builder category of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame.
A contributor to softball since the mid-1950s, he is a member of the St. John’s, provincial and national softball halls of fame. He was a member of the first provincial softball executive and filled several positions for Softball Canada.
On five occasions he acted as general chairman for national softball championships held in St. John’s and filled the same position for the 1994 world women’s championships. He played a major part in obtaining the two-diamond Caribou Memorial Softball Complex.
Appointed a governor of the Olympic Trust of Canada, he was awarded the 125th Anniversary of The Confederation of Canada Commemorative Medal.
In addition to softball, he made significant contributions to the provincial sports hall of fame and various levels of curling as an executive.
He has served on a wide variety of sports and community organizations and committees.
He played senior softball, junior baseball and was a fine five-pin bowler in his athletic years and achieved success as coach of three St. John’s All star senior softball teams.
For his important contributions to softball, especially in hosting national and international competitions, Vince Withers was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame October 28, 1995.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES-UMPIRES (YEAR-BY-YEAR)
1972 Inductees
Vince Withers (St. John’s)
Charlie Dawe (Upper Gullies)
Jim Scharpegge (Gander)
1973 Inductee
Jim Smith (Manuels)
1974 Inductee
Jack McCarthy (St. John’s)
1975 Inductee
Alexander (Duey) Fitzgerald (St. John’s)
1978 Inductee
Augustus (Gus) Walters (St. John’s)
1994 Inductee
Roy Davis (Grand Falls)
1997 Inductee
Dave Hollett (St. John’s)
1999 Inductee
Bob Hickey (St. John’s)
2009 Inductee
Randy Souliers (St. John’s)
2019 Inductee
Bob Gulliver (St. John’s)
