Welch, Bob

Bob served as the Umpire in Chief for the Warren Country Umpires Association for 18 years. During that time, he established one of the more organized umpire associations for recreational sports in the Commonwealth. He was responsible for over 89 officials that worked in softball, baseball, and basketball. He did this despite the fact that he was a high school official with a full schedule of softball and basketball duties.

He also coached softball, baseball, and basketball teams. He was also a member of the South Central Kentucky Officials Association for fifteen years and officiated softball and basketball. He officiated a number of K.H.S.A.A slowpitch state tournaments and was U.I.C. for a K.H.S.A.A. fastpitch state tournament.

Field #5 in Bowling Green’s Basil Griffin Park is named after him. His umpiring duties took him across the country and his greatest thrill was to be able to attend the Women’s Fast Pitch competition of the 1996 Olympics and see the USA women compete in their sports as Olympians for the first time.

This award bears witness that his name shall forever be in the Kentucky Softball Association Hall of Honor.