Umpire History

Ed Mayhew

On December 6, 1976 - Mr. Ed Mayhew, Indianapolis was named Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief. Mr. Mayhew a Human Resource professional was a master communicator / motivator and a consummate professional. Mr. Mayhew served until the end of 1989, when his failing health dictated that he retire. Mr. Mayhew was inducted into the National ASA Hall of Fame in 1982. Mr. Mayhew was inducted into the Indiana ASA Hall of Fame in 1981. Mr. Mayhew died January 15, 2003.

Ken "Red" Smith

Mr. Ken "Red" Smith, Lafayette was appointed Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief in 1990. Mr. Smith was very popular as he had a long and colorful career as a working umpire. Mr. Smith only served one season as Umpire-in-Chief as he was not yet ready to give up umpiring. Mr. Smith was inducted into the Indiana ASA Hall of Fame in 2003. Mr. Smith has since retiring moved to New Mexico with his wife and family.

Craig Cress and Gary Price

In 1991, Indiana ASA State Commissioner, Mr. Wayne L. Myers "split his ticket", as he appointed two Umpires-in-Chief, one for Fast Pitch - Mr. Craig Cress, Terre Haute, and one for Slow Pitch - Mr. Gary Price, Lafayette. Both men were excellent umpires in their own right and experts on positioning, mechanics, and playing rules. Mr. Cress and Mr. Price successfully served together through the 1994 season, when because of his work schedule Mr. Price resigned. Mr. Cress continued his service to Indiana ASA through the 1999 season, when he was initially appointed the Midwest Region (10) Umpire-in-Chief position, then was hired by the ASA National Office to serve as Director of Membership Services a position he still holds. Mr. Cress was inducted into the Indiana ASA Hall of Fame in 2004.

Steven L. Chamness

Indiana ASA State Commissioner, Mr. Wayne L. Myers appointed a committee of five to interview candidates and forward a recommendation to Mr. Myers for the next Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief. Ms. Cindy Inman, Mr. Mike Ropp, Mr. Ken "Red" Smith, Mr. Kenneth Hattery, Mr. Dan Smith met with the two candidates and recommended that Mr. Steven L. Chamness, Elkhart be appointed the next Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief. As the "new millennium" began so did the service of Mr. Steven L. Chamness. Mr. Chamness a professional estimator for a machine / tool builder, was also highly motivated and well known for his involvement in the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA). Mr. Chamness was instrumental in the development of this website as a communications tool. Mr. Chamness was the first Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief to allow slow pitch umpires to wear shorts in State Tournaments. Mr. Chamness faithfully served until his resignation on October 31, 2007.

Ronald L. Summers

In April 1984, Ron Summers became an ASA Umpire. Behind the Union Center Church of the Brethren, at the corners of Elkhart County roads 11 & 50, there was a softball field. Ron Summers worked the bases. Ron seemed to catch on quickly, as his previous experience and knowledge of the game helped. Ron registered with Indiana ASA and ordered some basic equipment and a career was born.

In 1985 Ron Summers attended his first Indiana ASA two-day Umpire School in Highland. The Indiana ASA Umpire-in-Chief, Ed Mayhew (a member of the National Hall of Fame) directed the State Umpire School.

Ron developed rapidly as an umpire. Ron worked league and tournament games in Nappanee, Goshen, Middlebury, Elkhart, New Paris, South Bend, Mishawaka, Bourbon, and Plymouth. Ron worked numerous ASA – State, Midwest Region (10) Regional’s, and National Championship Finals Tournament events.

On August 19, 2007 Indiana ASA State Commissioner, Wayne L. Myers appointed Ron to replace Steven L. Chamness as the Indiana ASA State Umpire-in-Chief. In 2008 Indiana ASA held a record six one-day State Umpire Schools in six of the twelve Indiana ASA regions as well as the usual two State Umpire Clinics, one in the North and one in the South. In 2008, Ron with a truckload of ASA Umpire merchandise drove to every Indiana ASA State Tournament (fourteen adult, seven JO). Indiana registered 1,116 umpires in 2008.

Ron started attending the ASA National Convention as a representative of the South Bend, Indiana Parks and Recreation Department in 2000 at Spokane, Washington. Ron has now attended nine consecutive National Conventions, three times (including the last two) as a voting National Council Member.

Ron works hard for the Indiana ASA Umpires – on a daily basis. There is never an “off season”. Ron annually mails a six-page newsletter with ten-twelve pages of inserts to more nearly 1,250 Indiana ASA Umpires and Commissioners. Ron also oversees the content of a webpage with over seventy pages of information. Indiana ASA Umpires never lack for communication or a source for information. Ron publishes three telephone numbers – home, work, and mobile. He is literally available from 5:00 a.m. until he goes to bed at 9:00 p.m., and then you can leave him a voicemail. Ron also receives and answers about fifty “softball” emails a day, every day, year round.

Ron Summers has developed a support team of four Assistant State Umpires-in-Chief, fourteen Region Umpires-in-Chief, nearly a dozen State School and State Clinic staff, and several administrative persons who allow him to lead and direct the program to its’ fullest capacity. Ron Summers has leveraged Indiana ASA Umpires into the “Blue Team”. Ron’s theme for 2010 is “Raising the Bar of Excellence”.

Ronald L. Summers

Indiana ASA State Umpire-in-Chief

3108 Benham Avenue

Elkhart, IN 46517-1944

Home: 574-294-8521

Mobile: 574-226-3071

Email: asauic55@comcast.net

Contact webmaster: Bob Waters

Page last updated: Thursday April 01, 2010