Bill Mead of Maupin recently received recognition as the 2024 Oregon Athletic Officials Association/OSAA softball umpire of the year.
Mead, 62, has enjoyed a long career of over 20 years as a Mid-Columbia Umpires Association official, including having the honor as one of the umpires at the June 1, OSAA Class 4A softball state championship game at Jane Sanders Stadium on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. Pendleton won the game, 4-0, over Henley. It marked the second time Mead umpired a state title contest (also in 2013).
“Watching my daughter play softball caused me to fall in love with the game and instilled a desire to become more involved so that I could give back to the sport,” said Mead, who is also an umpire trainer. “We’re trying to get younger guys involved in the umpire association. I pride myself in knowing the rules to the best of my ability and carrying out those rules through proper mechanics. The best part of officiating is the lifelong friendships I’ve made and also supporting student athletes who are participating in athletics.”
Mead was an umpire at the OSAA first-round state playoff game between The Dalles and Scappoose on May 22 at 16th Street Ballpark in The Dalles. He also was an umpire at six of Riverhawk home games this past season.
Mead is also an umpire at ASA softball traveling games around the state and a volunteer umpire at local Little League games. In 2008, Mead attended a week-long specialized training for Western Region Little League Baseball in San Bernadino, Calif. He says it helped strengthen his skills for all of his officiating activities, which has included basketball, football, and softball over his 23-year career. Mead retired as a basketball referee six years ago. He continues to officiate football games.
“I felt numb after winning the award and I didn’t really know how I was supposed to feel,” said Mead. “Winning the award out of all of the hundreds of umpires in the state is kind of a really special honor. Everyone that I’ve talked to has told me that I really deserved it, too. But I really don’t get that, because there’s a lot of umpires out there that do the same job as I do.”
Another area resident, Joe Wampler of The Dalles, also won the OAOA softball Umpire of the Year Award in 2022.
“It’s kind of an honor to have our Mid-Columbia Umpire Association recognized so well by having two of our guys winning the award,” said Mead.
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