HONORS
NGAUA LIFETIME MEMBERS
NGAUA is proud to have nine umpires who have earned Lifetime Membership in NGAUA. Selection as a lifetime member is made by the NGAUA Board members and is based on long-time service to NGAUA as an organization. Their names appear on a plaque that is displayed at all NGAUA meetings and the year-end banquet. This is NGAUA's higest award.The NGAUA umpires who have achieved this honor are as follows:
| Name | First Year With NGAUA |
| Jim Herring | 1954 |
| Dick Gayler | 1977 |
| Louis Walker | 1970 |
| Janis Haulbrook | 1980 |
| Harold Evans | 1954 |
| Earl Morris | 1964 |
| Harold Russell | 1959 |
| Ron Adair | 1975 |
| Jim Roark | 1968 |
| Larry Smith | 1980 | Jim Johnson | 1982 | Alan Brown | 1984 |
NGAUA ASA UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Beginning in 2000, NGAUA initiated a program to recognize its umpires who have gone the extra mile both on and off the field. For the NGAUA ASA Umpire of the year, this includes excellence and dedication for NGAUA’s league and ASA tournament games. The award is voted on by the NGAUA Board Members and awarded at the annual banquet. The names of the winners are listed on a plaque that is displayed at all NGAUA meetings and training sessions. The NGAUA ASA Umpires of the Year are as follows:
| Name | Year |
| Matt Aycock | 2000 |
| Jim Rollins | 2001 |
| Joe Davenport | 2002 |
| Dick Justus | 2003 |
| Jim Levy | 2004 |
| Dean Mills | 2005 |
| Ralph Sexton | 2006 |
| Jesse Merchant | 2007 |
NGAUA ISA UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Beginning in 2000, NGAUA initiated a program to recognize its umpires who have gone the extra mile both on and off the field. For the NGAUA ISA Umpire of the year, this includes excellence and dedication for NGAUA’s busy ISA tournament schedule. The award is voted on by the NGAUA Board Members and awarded at the annual banquet. The names of the winners are listed on a plaque that is displayed at all NGAUA meetings and training sessions. The NGAUA ISA Umpires of the Year are as follows:
| Name | Year |
| Bill Suddeth | 2000 |
| Barry Rhodes | 2001 |
| Lisa Woodruff | 2002 |
| Jerry Clover | 2003 |
| Lem Buster | 2004 |
| Corey Rose | 2005 |
| Matt Howard | 2006 |
| John Ivors | 2007 |
NGAUA USSSA UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Beginning in 2000, NGAUA initiated a program to recognize its umpires who have gone the extra mile both on and off the field. For the NGAUA USSSA Umpire of the year, this includes excellence and dedication for NGAUA’s busy USSSA tournament schedule. The award is voted on by the NGAUA Board Members and awarded at the annual banquet. The names of the winners are listed on a plaque that is displayed at all NGAUA meetings and training sessions. The NGAUA USSSA Umpires of the Year are as follows:
| Name | Year |
| Edwin Pickering | 2000 |
| Chuck Cantrell | 2001 |
| Ray Levy | 2002 |
| David Huiel | 2003 |
| Don Baker | 2004 |
| Dave Adkins | 2005 |
| David Huiel | 2006 |
| Jeff Neiswender | 2007 |
NGAUA FAST PITCH UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Beginning in 2000, NGAUA initiated a program to recognize its umpires who have gone the extra mile both on and off the field. For the NGAUA Fast Pitch Umpire of the year, this includes excellence and dedication for NGAUA’s fast pitch league,
ASA tournament and Georgia High School games. The award is voted on by the NGAUA Board Members and awarded at the annual banquet. The names of the winners are listed on a plaque that is displayed at all NGAUA meetings and training sessions. The NGAUA Fast Pitch Umpires of the Year are as follows:
| Name | Year |
| Bobby Teal | 2000 |
| Bob Earwood | 2001 |
| Larry Smith | 2002 |
| Gerald Lancaster | 2003 |
| Dan Tucker | 2004 |
| Brian Crane | 2005 |
| Reggie Barrau | 2006 |
| Lamar Meers | 2007 |
ASA MEDALS PROGRAM
NGAUA is proud to have 20 umpires as members of the ASA Medals program. The Medals program, which began in 1999, honors ASA umpires for their years of service to ASA. There are four levels for this program - the Blue level for those who have been registered for three years, the Bronze level for those who have umpired ASA for seven years (or five years and worked a state/metro tournament), the Silver level for those who have umpired for fifteen years (or seven years and three national tournaments) and the Gold level for those who have umpired for 20 years (or seven years and three national tournaments, two of which must be the Men’s or Women’s Major Fast Pitch, Men’s or Women’s “A” Fast Pitch, Girls 18U Gold Fast Pitch, Men’s Masters 40 & Over Fast Pitch, Men’s Super Slow Pitch, Men’s, Women’s or Men’s Industrial Major or “A” Slow Pitch, Men’s Major 16” Slow Pitch, Armed Forces Championship, Men’s or women’s Major Modified, and the Men's "A" Modified). An umpire may register for multiple levels.
There are 5536 umpires registered in the program at various levels. The cost is $20 for each level, and the umpire receives a cap, certificate and pin symbolic of the level achieved. The names of new Medals winners are printed annualy in the ASA Case Book and all Medals winners names are listed at the ASA Hall of Fame and on the ASA Web Site. If you are a NGAUA umpire who meets the above qualifications, please download the ASA Medals Application Form.
The NGAUA umpires in the ASA Medals Program (and their highest medal achived) are as follows:
| Name | Highest Medal Award |
| Angela Baldwin | Bronze |
| Lemuel Buster, Jr. | Gold |
| Brian Crane | Silver |
| Jimmy Derrick | Gold |
| Bob Earwood | Bronze |
| Dick Gayler | Gold |
| Don Harris | Gold |
| Jim Hiett | Gold |
| Jack Hurst | Gold |
| Gerald Lancaster | Gold |
| Rodger Lindsey | Gold |
| Joe McBride, Jr. | Blue |
| Don Mitchell | Gold |
| Robert "Earl" Morris | Gold |
| George Petrick | Gold |
| Jennifer Piazza | Bronze |
| Edwin Pickering | Gold |
| Jim Rollins | Silver |
| Abigail Safford | Blue |
| Larry Smith | Gold |
| Glenn Stewart | Gold |
| Bobby Teal | Silver |
| Dan Tucker | Gold |
NATIONAL INDICATOR FRATERNITY
NGAUA is proud to have 18 umpires who have earned membership in ASA's National Indicator Fraternity (NIF). There are currently 2,212 members certified with the National Indicator Fraternity (NIF), with approximately 100-125 added annually. It is a select group, considering that there are nearly 50,000 umpires nationwide. Names are permanently displayed in the National Hall of Fame, printed annually in the ASA Case Book and listed on the Official ASA Web site.To be honored into the NIF, an umpire must have been an ASA registered umpire for at least seven (7) years, but does not have to be currently active. The umpire must have worked in at least three (3) national tournaments either as an umpire or as a UIC or assistant UIC. A national school will also count as one of the national tournaments. If you are a NGAUA umpire who meets the above qualifications, please fill out this Application Form.
The NGAUA umpires who have achieved this honor are as follows:
| Name | Year Inducted |
| Lemuel Buster, Jr. | 1995 |
| Timothy Cole, Jr. | 1993 |
| Jimmy Derrick | 1990 |
| Dick Gayler | 1990 |
| Don Harris | 2000 |
| Jim Herring | 1986 |
| Jim Hiett | 1995 |
| Tim Houchin | 1993 |
| Jim Johnson | 1995 |
| Tim Kasate | 2000 |
| Rodger Lindsey | 2006 |
| Don Mitchell | 1999 |
| Robert "Earl" Morris | 2002 |
| Charles A. Myers | 1986 |
| George Petrick | 1999 |
| Edwin Pickering | 1999 |
| Bobbie Ragland | 1996 |
| Larry Smith | 2002 |
| Glenn Stewart | 2000 |
ISF CERTIFICATION
NGAUA has seven umpires who have been honored withtheir International Softball Federation (ISF) Certification. Receiving ISF Certification is a program for the top ASA Umpire, not available to any other softball organization. Once the umpire is certified as an ISF umpire, he/she is available to umpire at World (adult or junior men's and women's) or Regional Softball Championships, including the Pan American Games and the Olympics. Certification can be achieved in fast pitch, slow pitch, or modified pitch levels.A total of 213 U.S. umpires have been certified in this program since it began in 1978. Considering there have been nearly 100,000 registered umpires during that span of time, it is indeed an honor to hold this certification. Of that total, only 129 are active - 57 in fast pitch, 28 in slow pitch and 44 in modified pitch.
To achieve this honor, an umpire must have umpired in three national championships - two of which mustbe in the major division of the category applying for. In fast pitch, this includes the Men's and/or Women's Major and "A" divisions, the Men's 40-Over or the Girls 18-UGold. In Slow Pitch it includes the Men's Super, Men's or Women's Major and "A" Divisions, Men's Major and "A" Industrial divisions. In Modified, it includes the Men's Major and "A" or Women's Major divisions. In whichever championship the umpire applies, he/she must have the highest possible rating. Once this has been accomplished, the umpire can apply through the ISF headquarters to attend a five day "Certification" Seminar, which includes evaluations in live competition, evaluations on plate mechanics calling balls and strikes, evaluations on responding to mechanic and case plays, and being taught the difference in ASA and ISF Rules and passing a written exam on the rules. You may also see a a list of ISF umpires on the ASA Website If you are a NGAUA umpire who meets the above qualifications, download the ISF Application Form.
The NGAUA umpires who have achieved this honor are as follows:
| Name | Category |
| Lemuel Buster, Jr. | Modified Pitch |
| Timothy Cole, Jr. | Modified Pitch |
| Jimmy Derrick | Slow Pitch |
| Dick Gayler | Modified Pitch |
| Jim Hiett | Modified Pitch |
| Tim Houchin | Fast Pitch |
| Charles A. Myers | Modified Pitch |
ASA ELITE UMPIRE PROGRAM
NGAUA is proud to have six umpires who have been selected into ASA's Elite Umpire Program. This reward program, launched in 2003, is the highest honor an ASA umpire can obtain other than selection to the ASA Hall of Fame. There are currently 319 qualified umpires that have been selected for the Elite Program. Members who are approved as Elite Umpires can apply for their international certification (ISF) and are the only umpires eligible to work the National Championship Series (SP) and the Armed Forces Slow Pitch Championships.
To become eligible for this program, an umpire must have been an ASA registered umpire for at least seven (7) years and a current member in good standing. The umpire must have participated in at least four (4) national championships, and umpired in two (2) in the same category of play and from the championships listed below:
Fast Pitch: Men's Major, Women's Major, Men's Master 40-Over, Girls 18-U Gold, Men's "A" or Women's "A".
Slow Pitch: Men's Major, Women's Open (previously Major or "A"), Men's Major Industrial, Men's "A", Men's 16" Major, CO-ED Major, Men's Masters 35-Over, Men's or Women's Armed Forces, or the Championship Series.
Modified Pitch: Men's or Women's 9-Player (previously Major and "A"), or Men's 10-Player.
The ASA/USA Elite Umpire application fee is $40.00. All applications will be voted on by the ASA National Umpire Staff. If approved, the ASA Elite Umpire will receive a lapel pin, a navy ASA/USA "Elite" cap, membership card, framed certificate and name listed in the ASA Hall of Fame. In Atlanta ASA, the umpire will be awarded a trophy in front of his/her peers at the annual regional clinic. You may also see a list of all ASA Elite umpires on the ASA Web Site. If you are a NGAUA umpire who meets the above qualifications, download the ASA Elite Umpire Application Form.
The NGAUA umpires who have achieved this honor are as follows:
| Name | Category |
| Lemuel Buster, Jr. | Modified Pitch |
| Jimmy Derrick | Slow Pitch |
| Jim Hiett | Modified Pitch |
| Tim Kasate | Fast Pitch |
| Bobby Ragland | Modified Pitch |
| Edwin Pickering | Slow Pitch |