(Click ASA logo for official press release)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Amateur Softball Association recently announced Tom Dowd of Clovis, Calif. as the new Central California ASA Commissioner effective November 1, 2008. With over 20 years of experience with the ASA, Dowd is thrilled to be taking on this new position and thanks Dick Grove, former Central California Commissioner, for his guidance to get him to this point.

“This is an honor and privilege to serve ASA and our association membership in the Pacific Coast region,” said Dowd. “I want to build on the foundation that we have right now and continue to grow the sport of softball. Dick (Grove) has been a mentor to all of us and I am so fortunate he took me under his wing years ago.”

It was Dowd’s second daughter Anne who jump started his association with ASA dating back to 1987. She was eager to play the sport of softball and Dowd and other parents searched around the area and eventually started the Clovis California ASA league that is still in existence today. It started with teams ranging from 10-14-years-old and today ranges from 10-18- years-old with over 90 plus teams.

“Working with the association membership has been my most favorite part of ASA,” added Dowd. “I look forward to continuing those relationships and meeting new people from throughout the Central California association.”

Once the Clovis ASA League took off, Grove asked Dowd to come on board in a couple different capacities and he was named the Junior Olympic Commissioner in 1992. Serving in that position for almost 15 years, in 2007 Dowd then moved on from the JO position to Grove’s executive assistant in order to ease the transition after Grove’s retirement.

“Tom is a good guy and a great worker,” said Grove. “He knows how to get things done and is a good communicator. I don’t have any worries as he has been around and I have rotated him through a lot of things. This way everything will keep rolling and together we have things set up well.”

Dowd’s primary goals in the commissioner role is to expand the Adult Program Championship play in his area and also to bring back the visibility the men’s and women’s adult fast pitch game had years ago.

“It has been a little slow coming,” said Dowd. “I want to work to get the recreation departments to promote more ASA Championship Play in slow pitch. Our registrations in the adult area are great, but we have to get them into the championship play. Also, the adult fast pitch game…. We need to bring it back to the level it was at years ago.”

Editor’s note: We wish Dick Grove the best as he moves on from the position. Dick (along with our old friend “Hodgie”) were responsible for a lot of the fastpitch events in Central California. And we are encouraged by Tom Dowd’s comments about placing more emphasis on the game of men’s fastpitch. (Emphasis in story ours)

Related story from the ASA website on Dick Grove’s retirement after 23 years, after the jump.

Grove retires after 23 yrs
9/12/2008

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Dick “The Colonel” Grove, of Atascadero, Calif., recently announced his retirement from the Amateur Softball Association as the Central California Commissioner after 23 years of service.

“ASA has given me the opportunity to meet so many people and see the whole program from the big picture,” said Grove. “As a player, I just played fast pitch so it’s allowed me to be a part of the entire association and it has been rewarding to help build the program. The Annual Council Meeting has always been a great experience as well to see how working through legislation really helps to change things for the betterment of the team and players.”

“The time and energy Dick gave to this association is unbelievable,” said Craig Cress, ASA Director of Membership. “He has always been a leader for our membership and we are really going to miss him. His attitude and commitment were those to be admired and we certainly thank him for his many years of service.”

Grove began his reign as Central California commissioner on May 11, 1985, but his love for the sport of softball began long before. He started playing right out of high school in 1955 during his college days at Santa Ana College in California. He joined the National Guard and started a team in Lakewood, Calif. before having to travel with the military and also joining and creating teams wherever he went.

“I came back to Southern California and then moved up to San Luis Obispo and that is when I started playing ASA ball,” said Grove. “I played men’s fast pitch and was a part of the Old Coast teams. Then one day the commissioner asked me to be the deputy and take care of the Coast while he took care of the Valley.”

Grove continued his commitment as a player while taking care of the youth leagues and umpires as the deputy commissioner. Then he was solicited by the five standing ASA Commissioners in the Northern California area to be the commissioner of Central California.

“I was working for the government at the time and was kind of apprehensive because I could only do so much,” added Grove. “But I owe it all to my wife (Jean). She helped me so much and I could not have done it with out her.”

One of Grove’s fondest memories of the ASA was when he played, coached and was a commissioner all at the same time. He coached a city recreation league men’s fast pitch team called the Smugglers out of San Luis Obispo. The men’s fast pitch travel team he played for was sponsored by Atascadero Door Co., a local business in the area. They qualified for the first ever “B” Nationals that was held in Seattle, Washington before attending the two more in Las Cruces, New Mexico and Salem, Virginia. Having attended three National tournaments, he reflected those were some of the best memories.

“Our teams use to have the best times playing all over,” added Grove. “We stayed together for five to seven years and really got to know each other. It was great to have a chance to get to know guys from all over California.”

During his tenure at the ASA, Grove served as the Legislative Vice Chair, the Tournament Programs Committee Chair, the Vice Chair of the Masters- Seniors committee, and served on the Board of Directors representing Region 14.

This will mark Grove’s third retirement as he is retired from the military and civil service. Grove and his wife Jean have been married for 52 years and met when they were in high school. They have three grown children; Tim, 51, David 48, and Susan 45. They also have five grandchildren, all girls.

When asked what’s next up for him, Grove replied, “I probably have a pretty long honey-do list that I need to get caught up on.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 at 7:45 pm and is filed under ASA, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.