Eva played softball from 1950 – 1973, beginning with the Webster Dairy Buttercups of Glendale. In 1958, she joined the Phoenix Blues, which became a member of the Copper State League from 1962 to 1973.
Eva was selected as a Copper State League All Star 12 straight years and an ASA All State and Cactus Regional All Star 3rd Baseman. While playing for the Blues she won 5 Copper State League Championships, 6 ASA Metro Phoenix Championships, and 6 Independent State Championships plus participated in 7 ASA Cactus Regional tournaments. Her lifetime batting average was .401.
Eva was inducted into the Arizona Softball Foundation Hall of Fame in 2015.
Graveside Service:
October 16, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Rest Haven Cemetery
6290 W. Northern Ave. Glendale, AZ
Fond memories and expression of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelofthechimesmortuary.com
Visit Eva's Hall of Fame page
Thelma’s 18 year softball career spanned the years from 1956 to 1974. As an outstanding first baseman, she played for several of the famous Arizona teams. She was a member of the Phoenix PBSW Ramblers before joining the Sun City Saints team as both a player and later as a coach.
She played in 11 national tournaments and was voted All-American in 1964. She played in 54 consecutive innings in the ASA National Tournament for the Saints. Thelma was named 8 times to the Pacific Coast Conference All-Star Team. She served as coach and consultant to the 1979 ASA National Champion Sun City Saints Team.
Visit Thelma's Hall of Fame page
Paula played 25 years; primary positions second base, and outfield, Arizona State University 1977-1980, all conference Championship AIAW- 1980, Sun City Saints 1977-1983/4 with the National Champions 1978 and played on the United States Pan Am Gold Medal 1979 team in San Juan Puerto Rico.
She served as a member of the ASU Softball Board and the Arizona Softball Foundation.
Visit Paula's Hall of Fame page
Rose was a stalwart supporter of Arizona softball. She is in the Hall of Fame both as a player and as a contributor.
Here is from the news site:
PHOENIX - A former spokeswoman says Arizona's first female governor, Rose Mofford, has died at age 94.
Former Mofford spokeswoman and longtime friend Athie Hardt says Mofford died Thursday morning at a hospice she entered last month after being injured in a fall.
Mofford, a Democrat, served as governor from 1988 to 1991. She was the elected secretary of state when she took over for Republican Gov. Evan Mecham, who was impeached and driven from office.
Mofford did not run for her own term in 1990. She was succeeded by Fife Symington, who later resigned amid a real estate scandal in 1997.
She was the first of four female governors to lead the conservative state over the next two decades, including Jane Hull, Janet Napolitano and Jan Brewer.
Current US President Barack Obama had this to say about Rose:
Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of former Arizona Governor Rose Mofford. Rose was once fired from a government position because her boss "felt it was better to have a man in that particular job." But she was undeterred, eventually rising to become Secretary of State, and then governor – the first woman in Arizona to hold that office.
In all, her career in public service spanned more than a half-century. It’s a story of tireless service, steady leadership, and a trailblazing spirit that inspired not only a state where three more women would eventually follow her in office, but an entire country.
Rose showed us all what to do when somebody says we’re not good enough because of who we are – don’t believe it. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rose’s family and friends as they remember and celebrate her example.
Current AZ Governor Doug Ducey released a statement late Thursday morning:
“I join the citizens of our state, and many across the nation, in mourning the passing of Arizona’s trailblazing first female governor, Rose Perica Mofford.
Rose Mofford’s story is a truly unique Arizona story. Rising through the ranks of state government to our state’s top office, she shattered a once-thought-unbreakable glass ceiling and served as an unparalleled role model to many. She was noting short of an Arizona treasure, and will be deeply missed.
Governor Mofford brought people together. Both as a governor and a former governor, she exemplified the ability of leaders to unite us—to put partisanship aside and put our country and our state first. During challenging times for our state, Governor Mofford was the steady hand that led us through and held us together.
Governor Mofford’s unwavering commitment to the people of Arizona is illustrated by her decades of public service to make our state a safer, happier, and healthier place to live. Her service should serve as a model for all of us who follow her—serving with heart, determination and putting the needs of Arizona’s most vulnerable citizens first.
“In honor of Governor Mofford’s life and enduring legacy, I have ordered that all state flags be lowered to half-staff."
Visit Rose Mofford's Hall of Fame page as a Player
Visit Rose Mofford's Hall of Fame page as a Contributor
1923 - August 24, 2016
Services will be at: Chapel of the Chimes
59th Ave. & Northern on Wednesday, August 31.
Viewing at 9:00 AM Service at 10:00 AM
Rahmatulla got involved in umpiring with the Amatuer Softball Association in 1957, was a member of the Arizona Umpires Association in 1958 and has been working for the AIA since 1962. Rahmatulla has been umpiring girls high school fastpitch since 1976. He was inducted into the Arizona Softball Association’s Hall of Fame Aug. 27, 2005. He also has umpired men’s and women’s city league games and also umpired major league baseball intersquad spring training games for “five or six years” between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs, since there were not that many Cactus League teams in Arizona at one time.
Rahmatulla got into umpiring when one person approached him and asked if he would like to give it a try. His busy schedule made umpiring softball more appealing than playing the game.
His most memorable games were a high school game that went 21 innings. It started at 4:00 pm and went to 8:30 pm. Other memorable games were a women’s doubleheader that went from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The first game lasted 14 innings and the second one was 16 innings.
Rahmatulla said the players made umpiring a fun experience.
Visit Ish Rahmatulla's Hall of Fame page
May 28, 1935 - December 12, 2015
Donald was born in Montrose, MO on May 28, 1935 to Roy B. Kielland and Virgie Dahl. He was raised in Tacna, AZ and was in the first graduating class of Antelope Union High School. He married his high school sweetheart Noel Kay "Cissy" Kelland. They were married for 56 years until her death in 2011.
Don owned and operated Don Kielland Materials, a construction company for many years until his retirement in 2002. Along the way he played in the band "The Rounders" for many years in the 1970s in which they all player all over Yuma County to the delight of many fans.
Don had a great passion for softball and played and sponsored softball teams until the mid 1980s. That journey made him a great many friends in which he generously helped and aided many of them along the way. Don was honored by the Arizona Softball Foundation Hall of Fame committee and inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Sponsor Category which is now on display in Prescott, AZ.
Don was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Virgie and wife "Cissy". He is survived by his four sons - Donald Jr. of Tucson, AZ and Steve, Craig, and Mark of Yuma, AZ, grandchildren Randi, Tyrel, Shelby, Hope, Clay, Clinton, Curtis, Jadi, Kikki and Candi; brother Rick Kielland of Tacna, AZ, and two sisters, Shirley Tuffly of Yuma, AZ and Ginger McKay of Hermitage, MO as well as numerous nieces, nephews and great grandchildren.
Don touched many lives throughout his life and will be missed by all. A visitation will be held at Kammann's Mortuary onSaturday, January 16, 2016 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. Immediately following will be a celebration of life held at the American Legion Post 19 - 2575 S. Virginia Drive.
Visit Don Kelland's Hall of Fame page
After attending UNM, Bob joined the United States Marine Corp where he proudly served and was honorably discharged as a Captain in 1965. Although, according to Bob there is “no such thing as an x-marine”, he returned to civilian life earning a Masters of Education at Fresno state while also working as an Assistant Line Coach for Fresno State.
He returned home to attend law school at the University of Arizona. After earning his law degree, he practiced law in Arizona for over 45 years.
While Bob was a well-respected attorney, his true passion was coaching girls fast pitch softball. Bob brought back the Phoenix Ramblers girls softball team in 1981. During his 30 years of coaching girls’ softball, he coached his teams to two National Championships, eighteen national appearances, four top ten finishes at the nationals and numerous state and regional titles. He aided more than 200 girls in earning college scholarships.
During this time he was relentless in his pursuit of improved softball facilities ensuring Title IX was enforced for high school programs across the valley. He touched virtually every aspect of Women’s softball in Arizona working tirelessly to improve softball fields and increasing the caliber and organization of the sport. While he was honored to be inducted into the Arizona Softball Hall of fame in 2006, he was most proud of helping each player become her best.
He came out of coaching retirement to coach women’s softball at Scottsdale Community College where the Artichokes beat Phoenix College for the first time in 35 years.
Bob was a loving and attentive mentor to his daughters Katie, Jody, and Cammie; his son, Rob; his niece Dionne; and his grandchildren, Drew, Abby, Anthony, Cosimo, Ben, Santino, and Elena. Bob was a loving son to his parents Vera May and Vern and devoted brother to Linda and Don. Bob had a passion for life like no other and a kind and generous heart.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 8:15 am, Thursday, July 23, 2015 at Papago Softball Complex, 6201 E. Oak Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008. A reception will follow at 9:30 am at the Arizona Country Club. All of his friends, family, teams, and fellow coaches are invited to attend. No doubt, the world is full of more colorful stories after Bob’s huge spirit touched it.
Visit Bob Swan’s Hall of Fame page
Visit Doug Thorley’s Hall of Fame page
She grew up during the Great Depression and was the 5th child of a family of 10. Preceding her in death are her parents, Benson Eugene Lee Sr. and Anna Theresa Lee. Five brothers Charles, Robert, Richard, Gardner, and Benson Jr. Three sisters, Lydia, Etna, and Della. She has one surviving baby brother, George William Lee of Camp Verde, AZ.
Through great personal sacrifice, she worked her way into the very controversial world of women and the up and coming of Women’s Softball League. Annabelle managed to be a part of this wonderful experience from 1936 to 1941. She played for the A-1 Queens during this era, starting at Phoenix Union High School. In 2003 she was inducted into the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame and since then has attended yearly Softball Foundation Reunions in which she is a lifetime member. The reunion is headed by former Governor, Rose Mofford and Dot Wilkinson.
Prior to marriage, Annabelle worked at the Goodyear Airport as a head lead women in making airplanes during World War II. In 1946, she married Jess Powell who died in 1988. They had two daughters, Marsha Jean and Kathryn Lee and lived in Yuma, AZ. After 10 years, they moved to Flagstaff and lived there for 55 years. In 2012 she relocated to Prescott Valley, AZ with her daughter Marsha Jean and son in law Dale.
Annabelle was a very competitive bowler in Flagstaff. Truly dedicated, she highly excelled from 1957 to 2012. She was fondly called Sarge after being Sargent of Arms in the bowling association for several years. In 1984, she was inducted into the Flagstaff Women’s Bowling Association as the 1st woman in the Flagstaff Bowling Hall of Fame for Superior Performance, and she is also a lifetime member.
Annabelle worked and retired from WL Gore Wire and Cable in Flagstaff from 1970 to 1985. She was still receiving the Gore monthly newsletter and always felt a connection with the company and the impact it had on her life and family. She loved playing Solitaire, collecting coins, working crossword and jigsaw puzzles, going to Curves for exercise, attending Casa Senior Center, also going to Bingo at the American Legion, which she is a Lifetime Auxiliary member. Her greatest love in her golden years was attending the local casino where she won over lots of friends and even a blue 2002 Mustang.
As her family and friends, we will miss her fireball, spunky, colorful talk, and straight to the point personality.
Funeral Services will be held May 30, 2014 at Norvel Owens Mortuary, 914 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ at 11:00 a.m. Grave side Services will be held May 31, 2014 at East Rest Haven Park-Cemetery (4310 E. Southern Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85042) at 9am.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to ASF Hall of Fame – League of Their Own (3818 E Catherine, Phoenix, AZ 85042) or Hope & Care Foundation (13175 E. HWY 169, Dewey, AZ., 86327).
Condolences can be shared with her family at www.norvelowensmortuary.com
This obituary was prepared by the Advertising Department of the Flagstaff Daily Sun (928) 556-2279.
Visit Annabelle's Hall of Fame Page
The softball world lost the legend, Kathryn "Sis" King on April 18, 2014. Sis played for the PBSW Ramblers and the Raybestos Brakettes. She is a member of National ASA Hall of Fame and the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame. She was selected to the ASA All American team four different times.
Visit Sis's Hall of Fame page
There were three significant loves in her life, which would all have great outcomes. The first was softball. Flossie was an outstanding athlete who could have excelled in any sport she attempted, but the big opportunity for women in Arizona during the 30's and 40's was softball. She played for the A-1 Queens during an era when the sport dominated the local sports scene, with two national powerhouses, the Queens and the PBSW Ramblers being two of the best teams to ever play women's softball in the United States. Flossie played for the Queens for 22 years and was part of five national championship teams, was a three time All-American, and was selected to the Arizona Softball Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1975. Her love for softball also translated into a lifelong love of baseball, for which she was a huge fan- first for the Dodgers, then for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Her second great love was for her husband, Sam Ballard, who preceded her in death on September 27, 2012. They were married for 70 years and were a model of unconditional love that everyone in their family, and indeed anyone they came in contact with envied. That model has been emulated in the very long marriages of her two sons and their wives, Terry and Donna Ballard, and Sam and Brigitte Ballard. From them she has four grandchildren, Robert, Jordan, Morgan, and Derrick. She was a zealous fan of the various sports teams that they played for and followed them to games and gave them advice and coaching.
Flossie's third great love was for her family. She was a great communicator and defender of the entire family. She was the one who everyone in the family turned to in difficult moments and the one who all were eager to share the happy times with. If you wanted to know where anyone in the family was or what their condition was, you called Flossie. She was a Matriarch in every sense of the word until the end and her loss to this family cannot be truly measured in words.
Visit Flossie's Hall of Fame page
As part of the Greatest Generation, Alita served as a nurse at Williams Air Field during World War II. Proud of being a native Arizonan, she was a member of the First Families of Arizona, played softball for the World Champion A-1 Queens earning a place in the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame in 2004 and loved taking part in the Model A Ford Club activities.
Her grandchildren remember with fondness, how they knew to be quiet when grandma was doing her Bible study, which was a great source of strength for her. She will be greatly missed and always remembered.
A memorial service was held Thursday, March 8, 2012 at Messinger Mortuary.
Visit Alita's Hall of Fame page
Eleanor was born here in Phoenix June 21, 1921. She graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1939 where she reined as Queen of the Masque of the Yellow Moon. In addition to her accomplishments in softball, Firp was also an outstanding golfer and bowler.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, September 3 at 11:00 am at St. Mary's basilica, 231 N. 3rd St. Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to the Arizona Softball Foundation.
Arizona Softball Foundation
3818 E. St. Catherine
Phoenix, AZ 85042
Visit Firp's Hall of Fame page.
Rosie was born April 2, 1937 in Glendale, AZ, where she grew up and lived until her death on March 12, 2011 at age 73. She was the daughter of Manuel and Petra Miranda. Rosie had brothers - Manuel, Antonio, Pedro, Jose - and one sister - Armida Delgado.
She was a natural athlete and as a young girl played ball with her brothers. From the age of ten and throughout her school years, during summers, Rosie played softball with the Poston Tillage Sweethearts where she earned all state honors five times as a shortstop.
Rosie attended Isaac Imes Elementary for grades 1-4, and Unit 1 School for grades 5-8. While at Unit 1, she was the anchor on the relay team and set a school record for the fastest time. The record still stands.
Rosie graduated from Glendale High School where she played volleyball.
After high school Rosie joined the legendary Phoenix A-1 Queens and starred as their second baseman in 1956. She earned All-America second team honors at third base while playing for the famed Phoenix PBSW Ramblers (1957-60) in 1957 while helping lead the team to the runner-up spot nationally. Rosie was voted most colorful and popular player in the regional tournament. Blessed with a strong, accurate arm., good speed and hitting prowess, she ended a five-year retirement to join the Sun City Saints in 1966. During three seasons with the Saints, she twice was chosen on the Pacific Coast Women’s Softball League all-star team, in 1967 and ‘68. She retired from active softball playing in 1969.
Through her many activities, family was a significant part of her life. In1961, Rosie was married to Porfirio Andrade. They shared nearly 50 years in the Holy Sacrament of Marriage and brought two children into this world - a daughter Helen Siggelkow and son Paul. Helen has two children - Zachary and Samantha - whom Rosie was very proud of and loved deeply. Rosie spread here athletic talent to her daughter and grandchildren. She was their best fan.
At work Rosie was without question a dedicated and diligent employee. She was employed for 27 years at Glendale Union High SchoolDistrict. She retired in 1999 but did not stay in retirement long. In 2000 she went to work for Independence High School where she worked another ten years.
The year 2000 was a remarkable year for Rosie. In March of that year her son, Paul Andrade, was ordained to the Priesthood. On the same day, Rosie learned that her daughter, Helen Siggelkow, would be inducted in the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame. Rosie and her daughter Helen are the only mother-daughter members of the AZ Hall of Fame.
Rosie was a modest woman and in spite of her many personal accomplishments, she was more likely to talk about her son becoming a priest or her daughter being inducted into the Hall of Fame or anything about her grandchildren her were her pride and joy.
Rosie is preceded in death by her parents and six siblings. She leaves many cherished memories to her husband, Porfirio, her son, Father Paul Andrade and her daughter, Helen Siggelkow (husband Don), and two grandchildren, Zachary and Samantha Siggelkow.
Her life will be celebrated with a visitation Friday, March 18, 2011 beginning at 5:00 pm and concluding after the recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 pm. A Requiem Mass will held Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 10:00 am at West Rest haven Funeral Home - 6450 W. Northern Ave. Committal services immediately follow at Resthaven Park Cemetery.
Visit Rosie's Hall of Fame Page
Ricki was born September 14, 1925 in Oakland, CA. She was inducted into the National ASA Hall of Fame in 1973 and into the Arizona Hall of Fame in 1978.
Ricki played in ten ASA Nationals and was on the championship teams with Orange California Lionettes in 1956, '57 and '62. Here in Arizona she played for the A-1 Queens and PBSW Ramblers in 1963-65 in her 25 year career as a player.
Ricki was a second baseman and earned All-American status in 1956, '57 and '60 when she hit .381. She made just one error in her first four nationals with 32 assists and 35 putouts. She was also one heck of a baserunner.
Caito worked for Hughes Aircraft during World War II as a Technical Illustrator and worked in Real Estate in Phoenix from 1963 through 2010. Ricki was a WIBC bowler for 50 years. She loved music and played her Lowery organ every day.
She is survived by her long time companion, Dot Wilkinson, and many nieces, nephews, in-laws and adopted families as well as her dog Desi.
The softball world loses a great player and pioneer with the passing of Ricki Caito.
A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, January 15, from 2:00-4:00 with a memorial service following at 4:00 at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary: 719 N. 27th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85009. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to: Arizona Softball Hall of Fame - 3818 E. St. Catherine, Phx. AZ 85042 or Humane Society - 1521 W. Dobbins, Phx. AZ 85042 or Hospice of the Valley - 1510 E. Flower St., Phx. AZ 85014.
Visit Ricki's ASF Hall of Fame Page
Stuart Arland Zink
It is with great love and sadness that we share the passing of our husband and dad on September 11, 2010 after a six month battle with cancer. Stuart was born January 27, 1934 to Noel and Sarah Zink in Hardinsburg, Indiana. The family moved to Arizona in 1947 and after 63 years he considered himself a native enjoying traveling from corner to corner taking pictures of birds and wildlife.
Stu attended North Phoenix High School, Phoenix College and Arizona State College (ASU) where he excelled in academics and athletics. He met the love of his life Nancy at North High and they married in 1956. Stuart served in the United States Army and upon honorable discharge in 1959 he began his career in education with Cartwright Elementary School District where he was a teacher, principal and after 34 years retired as Asst. Superintendent for Personnel Services.
He was a charter member of the Westside Civitan Club devoting many hours of service. Stuart played fast-pitch softball for 25 years being inducted into the International Softball Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Arizona Softball Foundation Hall of Fame.
Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Nancy and two sons Dan and Chris. We are grateful for our years together with wonderful memories.
We invite you to join us on Thursday September 16 at 4:00 P.M. for a short service of love and remembrance at the First Christian Church 6750 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, Az. A reception and visitation will immediately follow in the church. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations to Lura Turner Homes (homes for special needs adults) c/o Max McQueen 1432 North 27th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85009 or a charity of your choice. Heaven is now blessed with one of the good guys.
Visit Stu's Hall of Fame Page
A.C. Williams
A.C. Williams passed away at his home of 53 years in Prescott, on August 31, 2010, after dealing with diabetes and heart problems for several years.
Archie Crouch was born on May 16, 1925 to Archie Andrew and Lizzie (Crouch) Williams in the west Phoenix, Arizona valley. A.C. was the second child and oldest son of the family. He was born in a house surrounded by cotton fields and was always proud of being a native Arizonan. A.C. spent his early life, during the Depression, working alongside his family on their farm in Gilbert and Chandler.
He would gladly tell stories of how he and his brother, Gerald, would milk cows on their dairy farm, before sunrise and going to school. He excelled at school and developed a consuming passion for sports, reading the sports pages of the
newspaper, and listening to games on a radio that he hooked up in the milk barn.
A.C. spent many hours riding horses with Gerald and his cousin, Denton Little, across Pinal county between, what is now, the Sun Lakes area and the Williams farm southeast of Chandler.
A.C. participated in all the sports teams while in high school, playing basketball, football, baseball and particularly excelled in track. Upon graduation from high school in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Medical Corpsman in Memphis, Tn., Atlanta, Ga., and Norman, OK., mostly working in the clinics and
driving an ambulance on the airfields. A.C. was not sent overseas, due to his being color blind, but was always proud of the service he rendered to his country.
A.C. was married to Glendell Gobbel on Christmas Eve of 1945, after hitchhiking from his duty station in Oklahoma, to Tempe, Arizona where the wedding took place. The newlyweds made their first home in Atlanta.
He attended, what was then called, Arizona State's Teacher College in Flagstaff and graduated in a record two years, with a degree in Political Science and History, with a minor in Physical Education and Recreation. While there he worked at a local motel, doing any job he could find to support his young family. A.C. got a teaching job at the new Flowing Wells High School, on the outskirts of Tucson, where farms still bordered the school grounds. He literally laid out the first ball fields at the school. Any and all sports at the school, A.C. coached it. worked as the school district recreation supervisor for the Parks and Recreation department in the summers, in Tucson.
In 1957, A.C. moved his family to Prescott, due to his daughter, Vicki's, asthma. He
was the new Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Prescott and started
from scratch, as he was the only staff member, with a few volunteers that helped
with various sports programs. His first office was at City Park, now Ken Lindley,
under the old bleachers, complete with leaking water on the cement floors. Prescott
was just a small town of about 12,000 people, and building the parks was by far, the
most important thing to him.
A.C. was most proud of building of the first Roughrider softball diamond near Yavapai College, with no bonds or sales tax dollars. He depended on a lot of community support and volunteer hours to complete it, as there was no money to work with.
His biggest achievement and the one he was proud of accomplishing, was that of promoting fast-pitch softball. A.C. had the philosophy of getting the finest quality of teams and players he could recruit for tournament play. A.C. was able to get teams from all over Arizona and California. There were a lot of good
competitive teams in the Prescott area in the 1960s at that time, and was in full swing before 2,000 to 4,000 fans on many weekends at Ken Lindley park.
A.C. and his small staff of one or two people, spent countless hours on the downtown plaza, rigging up PA systems for talent shows and square dances in the summer. He was the one who coordinated anything that needed to be done for any public event in the greater Prescott area. It was a common saying around town,
"Get A.C. to take care of that", and he would always go way beyond the call of duty. He was responsible for the Teen Canteen, which he set up for the local teams in Prescott in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
In 1962 A.C. was appointed to the Arizona State Parks Board by Governor Paul Fannin, reappointed by subsequent Governors, and stayed active until he retired in 1984. He was selected as Man of the Year by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce in 1969 and served as the Arizona State Commissioner for the Amateur Softball
Association of America, that same year. A.C. also served on the Governor's Advisory Sports Council by Governor Bruce Babbit in 1978 and the Prescott Salvation Army presented him with the Humanitarian of the Year Award in 1979.
Throughout the 1970s he toured Arizona softball teams in New Zealand, South Africa, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Australia and the Philippines. He and his wife, Dell, made many close friends in New Zealand and kept in contact with them over the decades.
A.C. knew every inch of Arizona and was proud of his knowledge of little known "forgotten" towns throughout the state. He traveled by every mode of transportation, as a member of the Arizona Parks Board, participating in countless dedication ceremonies at new state monuments or parks, cutting ribbons, shaking
hands, standing for photographs with various dignitaries. He even took a ride in a stagecoach into Tombstone, for an event, which he always laughed about.
A.C. spent his retirement years from the Park and Recreation office, doing what he loved best, that of being the Regional Director for six states in the Rocky Mountain region and was on the Executive Board for the Amateur Softball Association. His
devotion to the development and promotion of softball was boundless. He always loved seeing the kids, especially, take up the sport and succeed. A.C. could name the old-time softball players from the 1930s and 1940s with ease. He was proud of the
fact that his great-granddaughter, Allyson Jacobson, is active in girls' softball and obviously loves the sport as much as he did.
A.C.'s footprint is seen everywhere in Prescott and Arizona. His is a lasting legacy that will always be seen in the ballparks, parks and monuments throughout the state, and in the people who knew him.
Survivors include his loving wife, Glendell and their children Linda (Phillip Murray)Cates, Vicki Mastriani and Byron Williams. Seven grandchildren include Robyn (Brian) Jacobson, Glenn (Nilda) Cates, Aaron and Todd (Hannah) Mastriani, and Nate, Luke and Tyler Williams. Five great-grandchildren include Allyson and Jared Jacobson, Hailey and Dawson Mastriani, and Scarlett Cates, with
a new great-grandson due in October. He also leaves a sister, Jo Stricker, of Colorado and numerous nieces, nephews and family members. He was predeceased by his sister June Beck and brother, Gerald Williams, as well as his parents.
Services will be at 10am on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at the Grace Sparkes Memorial Activity Center (Armory Building) at 824 E. Gurley St., Prescott. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, September 3 from 4pm to 7pm at Hampton Funeral Home, 240 S. Cortez St., Prescott. Family suggests memorials be made to Arizona ASA, P.O. Box 1850, Prescott, AZ 86302. Hampton Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.
Visit AC's Hall of Fame Page
