FOUR OLYMPIANS AMONG NINE-MEMBER ASA NATIONAL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2006

[Al Doran]

Subject: Olympians Chosen For Hall of Fame
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 11:15:29 -0600
From: "Brian McCall" <bmccall(at)softball.org>


FOUR OLYMPIANS AMONG NINE-MEMBER ASA NATIONAL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY – Four players who were integral in the success of the USA 
Softball Women’s National Team during the past two decades, including 
capturing the first Olympic gold medal in the sport of softball, headline 
the list of people chosen for enshrinement into the ASA National Softball 
Hall of Fame in 2006.

Sheila Douty (Diamond Bar, Calif.), Michele Granger (Davis, Calif.), Dot 
Richardson (Orlando, Fla.) and Michele Smith (Califon, N.J.) become the 
first members of the original U.S. Olympic Softball Team to be selected for 
induction into the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame. Each was a member of 
the 1996 USA Softball National Team that captured the sport’s first Olympic 
gold medal. Douty, Richardson and Smith also led the U.S. to its second 
consecutive Olympic gold medal in Sydney, Australia.

A total of nine people were elected in four different categories to the ASA 
National Softball Hall of Fame during the 74th ASA National Council Meeting 
held recently in Tucson, Ariz., at the J.W Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa.

USA Softball’s Avon Meacham is the lone player from the men’s fast pitch 
category to be selected to the Class of 2006. A three-time ASA 
All-American, Meacham led the USA Softball Men’s National Team in three Pan 
American Games.

In the meritorious service category, retiring Alaska Commissioner Pat 
Lillian (Anchorage, AK) was selected after serving on the ASA Council for 
more than 20 years and as an ASA commissioner 33 years. Also selected in 
the meritorious service category were Illinois Commissioner Don Brewer and 
Region 1 umpire-in-chief Norm Davis of Lewiston, Maine.

Ralph Miller (San Francisco, Calif.) becomes the 33rd individual to be 
selected for enshrinement in the umpire category into the ASA National 
Softball Hall of Fame and the final member of the Class of 2006.

The nine inductees will be officially enshrined at the 2006 ASA National 
Council Meeting, November 11-18, in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2006 are: Don Brewer (Murphysboro, 
Ill.) meritorious service; Norm Davis (Lewiston, Maine), meritorious 
service; Sheila Douty (Diamond Bar, Calif.), women’s fast pitch player; 
Michele Granger (Davis, Calif.), women’s fast pitch player; Pat Lillian 
(Anchorage, AK), commissioner; Avon Meacham (Upper Marlboro, Md[hk1] .), 
men’s fast pitch player; Ralph Miller (San Francisco, Calif.), umpire; Dot 
Richardson (Orlando, Fla.), women’s  fast pitch player; Michele Smith 
(Califon, N.J.), women’s fast pitch player.

Brief bios on each of the selected individuals are listed below:

Sheila (Cornell) Douty:  Named ASA All-America 16 times as first baseman, 
DH and utility. Was a member of seven  ASA national championship teams. 
Compiled a .418 batting average with the Raybestos Brakettes. Batted .412 
in three ISF World Championships and .433 batting average in five Pan 
American Games.

Michele Granger: Southpaw pitcher who earned ASA All-America honors six 
times. Compiled 13-7 record in five U.S. Olympic Festivals, 4-0 in two ISF 
World Championships and 9-0 in three Pan American Games. Holds record for 
most consecutive strikeouts in a Women’s Major Fast Pitch National 
Championship (18).

Dr. Dot Richardson: Named ASA All-America 15 times and was member of 10 ASA 
national championship teams. Won the Erv Lind Award as outstanding 
defensive player in ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship 
seven times.

Avon Meacham: Named ASA All-America three times and  was MVP of the 1994 
ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship, Batted[hk2]  .306 
(30-for-98) in six ASA nationals.

Michele Smith: Named ASA All-America 10 times and four-time winner of the 
Bertha Tickey Award as outstanding pitcher in ASA Women’s Major Fast Pitch 
National Championship. Was[hk3]  one of the premier double-threat players 
in the game.
Brewer: Has been involved with Illinois ASA since 1961 and excelled as a 
manager, sponsor and commissioner. Compiled  won-loss  record of  1,630 
wins and 557 losses as a fast pitch and slow pitch manager. Has been 
Illinois ASA commissioner since 2001 and  received membership awards each year.

Norm Davis: Began ASA career in 1964 as an umpire and served as Maine UIC 
for 15 years. In 1989, was named to ASA National Umpire staff. Member of 
National Indicator Fraternity and Medals program.

Ralph Miller:  Umpired 24 years and worked eight ASA nationals including 
five Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championships. In 1996, was selected 
to umpire the ISF World Championship in Midland, MI. Served as deputy UIC 
for Oakland ASA from 1998-2001.

Pat Lillian: Retiring after 33-year career as Alaska ASA commissioner. Was 
women’s coordinator at eight U.S.O.C. Festivals. Is chair of the 
International Softball Federation Athletes Commission. Is a member of the 
Northwest Region Hall of Fame
The National Softball Hall of Fame was established in 1957 to honor those 
players and non players for their contributions to the development and 
promotion of softball. The nine new inductees increase membership in the 
Hall of Fame to 316. Formal induction ceremonies have been held since 1981.

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