USA Softball of Seattle History

First commissioner of USA Softball of Seattle was named in 1939, Royal Broughm, civic promoter, sportswriter for the Seattle Post Intelligencer, a street adjacent to the Mariners SAFECO Field was named after him.

Royal was followed by Lou Evans of Seattle Parks in 1944 until 1966.

Lou was followed by Howard Bogie of Seattle Parks from 1966 to 1977.

Howard was followed by Kent Morrill, King County Parks from 1977 to 1986.

Kent was followed by Toni Franklin, a softball enthusiast from 1986 to 1995.

Toni was followed by Joe Wilson in 1995.

Joe Wilson, retired as a Commissioner Emeritus, after 16 years of service at the end of 2010.

Mike Rabin retired as commissioner after 12 years at the helm.

Jim Donner was selected to follow Mike as commissioner beginning January 1, 2022.  Jim brings 24 years experience as a slow pitch player, 31 years as umpire, tournament director for numerous slow and fast pitch national tournaments, as well as being JO commissioner for over 20 years.

Metro Tacoma Commissioners*

Dillard Howell 1940-1946

A.E. Spencer 1947-1950

John Rockway 1951-1969

Steve Orfanos 1970-1990

Debbie Hanson  1990-2004

* before Tacoma was incorporated with Metro Seattle in 2004 to form the Seattle Tacoma Association

National Tournament Event Record

1980 MEN’S MAJOR FP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

1981 WOMEN’S A SP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

1985 MEN’S MAJOR FP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

1999 MEN’S 45 & OVER SLOWPITCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2000 WOMEN’S FAST PITCH NATIONAL TEAM AT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

2000 GIRL’S 16U WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

2001 WOMEN’S CLASS C SLOWPITCH WEST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

2002 GIRL’S 18U GOLD SECTOR

2002 MEN’S 23U FAST PITCH NATIONAL  CHAMPIONSHIP

2002 WOMEN’S CLASS D SLOWPITCH WEST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

2003 MEN’S 45 & OVER FAST PITCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2005 GIRL’S 18U GOLD SECTOR

2006 REGIONAL/NATIONAL UMPIRE SCHOOL

2006 GIRL’S 16U A FAST PITCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2008 GIRL’S 18U GOLD TERRITORY CHAMPIONSHIP

2008 GIRL’S 18U A FAST PITCH WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2008 MEN’S D SLOW PITCH WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

2011 GIRL’S 16U A FAST PITCH WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

2013 MEN’S E/REC WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2016 GIRL’S 12A WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2018 Girl’s 16A USA Softball National Championship Finals

Current Umpire in Chief

Charles “Rookie” Coburn- Appointed January 2019

Partial list of Former Umpires-in-Chief

  • Kayleen Dunson
  • Lori Bish
  • Tom Henderson
  • Malcolm Boyles
  • Tim Douglas
  • Malcolm Boyles
  • Bill Silves
  • Mike Sepe
  • Bruce Bergman
  • Jim Dungan
  • Tom Shilley
  • Mike Keim