Grace, William L.

BEGINNING IN 1952, WILLIAM L. GRACE SPENT THE NEXT 34 YEARS, UNTIL 1986, DOING SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY DEAR TO HIM—UMPIRING SOFTBALL GAMES. SEVERAL OF HIS CO-WORKERS HAVE SAID THAT IT WAS AN HONOR TO UMPIRE WITH WILLIAM GRACE BECAUSE HE ALWAYS COMMANDED RESPECT FROM THE COACHES, PLAYERS, AND OTHER UMPIRES INVOLVED IN THE GAME. HE KNEW THE RULES WELL AND COULD KEEP CONTROL OF THE GAME. MR. GRACE WAS VERY DEDICATED TO THE GAME OF SOFTBALL.

HE WAS DISTRICT 6 UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF FROM 1970 TO 1986 AND ATTENDED EVERY STATE CLINIC THAT WAS HELD. HE WAS GOOD AT RECRUITING UMPIRES AND CONDUCTED CLINICS EACH YEAR.

IN 1986, WILLIAM GRACE ENDED A LONG UMPIRING CAREER WHEN HE UNDERWENT OPEN HEART SURGERY. HIS DEDICATION TO SOFTBALL WAS EVIDENT WHEN THE FIRST THING HE ASKED THE DOCTORS DURING RECOVERY WAS IF HE WOULD BE ABLE TO UMPIRE AGAIN.