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Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame
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List of Past and Present HOF members --Scroll down past article

2006 Inductees honored May, 13--click here for plaque inscriptions, details, and picture

KY Softball Hall of Fame and Honor moves to Lexington at Applebees Park, home of Lexington Legends Minor League Baseball Team

The Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame and Honor has found a new home in front of Applebee’s Park in Lexington, KY. Applebee’s Park, where the Lexington Legends professional “A” Minor League baseball team resides, was the perfect solution for everyone involved in showcasing Kentucky’s finest softball players, sponsors, coaches, umpires, etc. “It is a win, win situation for all parties involved,” expressed the CEO and President of Lexington Legends, Alan Stein, and Hall of Fame Treasurer Hank Bassett agrees wholeheartedly, “It has been a long, drawn out process but well worth the wait.” The Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame and Honor has been nominating softball standouts from the Bluegrass since it was started in 1983 by then ASA Commissioner, Jimmy Moore, of Frankfort. The Hall of Fame inductees over the last 33 years have been recognized with plaques recounting their many Kentucky accomplishments on and off the softball diamonds, but until now these plaques have been scattered around the state in a bit of obscurity. The most recent home housing over 150 of these awards was at the Owensboro Sports Center. Bill Bollinger, one of a 6 member Hall of Fame Board is from Owensboro, and he was instrumental in having the plaques moved to his hometown from the hallway of the Lexington Parks and Recreation building. As nice as the Owensboro Sports Center was and as hospitable as the City of Owensboro and Bill Bollinger were, all of the members of the Hall of Fame Board became eagerly excited when they heard there was a chance to move to Lexington for a permanent location. Close to two years ago Board member, Raymond Moscoe (that’s me) set the process in motion. I met with Lexington Legends majority owner at the time--Brad Redmon. Mr. Redmon and I became good friends acquainted through softball channels playing together with Lexington City champions, Rosemont Baptist, and Robinson’s Auto Body as well as late 80’s ASA A State winner, Buffalo & Dads. I simply asked Brad, “Is there any space available for the Hall of Fame,” and without hesitating, he said, “I’ll find some, somewhere,” at the Lexington Legends facility, Applebee’s Park. Alan Stein was also keen on the idea of helping out the community through baseball’s sister sport, softball, and the grounds were laid for a great partnership between the Legends and the Hall. the original room that was picked out was just inside the front gates of Applebee’s Park and was the first space passers by would see to their right as they walked through the halls of Applebee’s Park leading to their seats. After measuring, surveying and much discussion, both parties agreed that a somewhat larger space could be utilized for the Hall of Fame. That original smallish prime spot was put to use though, as CEO Stein renovated and turned it into his personal office. Meanwhile, a couple of other important events were taking place. Number 1: The search for the Hall of Fame’s new home was still ongoing, and Number 1 with a bullet: Brad Redmon was in negotiations concerning selling his majority ownership of the Lexington Legends. While Mr. Redmon and eventual new principal owner and Chairman of the Board, William Shea, were in their discussions, a third person, Gary Durbin, was asked to be a consultant over the space for the Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame and Honor. Mr. Durbin, an avid softball player himself, was the Vice President of Facility Operations with the Legends. Among his many hats were managing the upkeep of Applebee’s Stadium and its surroundings, dealing with the security and police, special events coordinating, and overall stadium aesthetics. After a few months had passed from mine and Brad’s initial lunch meeting, Durbin, Redmon, and Stein collectively agreed to offer a portion of the vacant S&S Tire building that the Legends team owned. The S&S Tire building is just in front of Applebee’s Park across from the ticketing window and can be readily seen by anyone on South Broadway on their way to or from Rupp Arena or of course, anyone pulling into the beautiful Applebee’s Stadium parking lot. The former office of S&S Tire was being used as a dressing room for “Big L” , the Legends mascot with adjoining bay areas used for storage. The S&S Tire office became the offer from the Legends higher ups for the new Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame and Honor, and, after a few meetings and viewing the spot, all were in agreement to secure the deal. The “deal” became official in mid-April of Spring of 2006 when the final inside renovation had been completed by Nick Berardi, Sr.--two-time softball world champion and newest inductee into the Hall of Fame as a sponsor, coach, and player. Gary Durbin’s crew had completed a magnificent makeover to the outside of the old S&S Tire building making it a replica of sorts of Applebee’s Stadium so the task to turn the inside office into a suitable Hall of Fame was daunting, but Berardi used his same passion from the softball fields to make it a home to remember. Besides the meandering blue carpeted walls, four uniquely made trophy cases have been designed and built inside the softball Hall. The first glass case surrounds the 1939 JH Grady National Fast Pitch Championship trophy. The second display holds Starpath’s 1988 Super Nationals award as well as the championship bat from the Smoky Mountain Classic. In another enclosure is the 1957 Gatliff National slow pitch trophy once residing in Northern Kentucky where the Gatliff team hails from. In a fourth special case is the Hooter’s Easton presentation won by Berardi’s in 2003 at Oklahoma City where the ASA East “A” Champs, Berardi’s, met the West, Meridian of Texas in a best 3 of 5 true national championship format. Berardi’s team picture also accompanies the Hooter’s hardware. A fifth trophy case might be in the offering for yet another Kentucky State Champion making it big on the national level like Riverside Ford in 1972 or any of the other 6 women’s national titles won by Kentucky Hall of Famer Donna Wolfe. Other winning and worthy memorabilia includes banners from Starpath and Berardi’s and a large picture of the late Hall of Fame founder, James A.Moore. There will certainly be more items added in the future to adorn the new Hall of Fame and among those are the plaques representing the 2006 induction class--Nick Berardi, Sr., Terry Cook, Bud Gagel, Bill Gatti, Al Gustafson, Leon Mattingly, Brad Redmon, Alan Stein, and Southern Belle. The aforementioned 9 were honored on May 13 at the Campbell House during the Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame and Honor banquet, and the inscriptions on the plaques are duplicated on the following pages. A special thanks goes out from the Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame and Honor committee and Board members, Hank Bassett, John Combs, Garland Thompson, Bob Spencer, Bill Bollinger, and myself to all who have helped make the move of the Hall of Fame to Lexington possible.

Inductee/YR/Category
1. Jackie L. Arnold                     2003 Manager
2. Terry Blong Arnold                   1997 Manager
3. Peggy Ball                             1990 Manager
4. John F. Ballard *                     1992 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
5. Hank Bassett                     1994 Sponsor, Manager & Service
6. Joseph Fred “Freddie” Beam    1987 District Commissioner
7. Gerald Belcher                     2003 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
8. Nick Berardi Sr.                     2006 Sponsor & Manager
9. James W. “Jim” Biggerstaff     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
10. Gene Bishop                     1987 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
11. Bill Bollinger                     2001 Coach, Umpire & District Commissioner
12. Susie Boone                     1994 Service
13. Al Brausch *                     1984 Manager
14. Bennie Britt                     1997 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
15. Tommie Brooks                     1989 Manager
16. Raymond “Whitey” Brown     1989 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
17. Tom Bryant                             1990 Umpire
18. Marsue Burroughs             1989 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
19. Sally Bussell                     1989 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
20. William F. “Bill” Cappel             1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
21. Calvin “Meb” Carpenter*     1994 Sponsor
22. Mike Casey                        2001 Umpire
23. Gaylord “Gayle” Caswell     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
24. Frank Coleman                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
25. John Combs                     1999 Umpire
26. Edgar “Bud” Connor*             1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
27. Terry Cook                             2005 District Commissioner
28. Judy Cox                             1999 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
29. Floyd “Iron Man” Craine*     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
30. Bill Crook                             2001 Manager
31. Teresa Crowe                     2002 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
32. George Culton                     1997 Sponsor
33. Omer Cunningham             1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
34. Bill Curry                             1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
35. Kenny Dean*                     1994 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
36. John W. Deaver*             1983 State Commissioner
37. Deposit BkThompkinsville     1986 Sponsor
38. Richard “Dick” Derrickson     1999 Umpire
39. Gene R. “Lefty” Dittoe*     1992 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
40. William “Buck” Duerson*     1997 Umpire
41. Lloyd C. “Dunnie” Dunlap*     1987 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
42. Anthony “Sluggo” Duvall     2001 Manager
43. Ray Ernst*                             1983 Umpire
44. Allen “the Horse” Fieldhaus     1985 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
45. Mary Ann Fitzgerald             1989 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
46. Doug Flynn                             1999 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
47. Robert “Bobby” Flynn          1988 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
48. Bill Fraley                             1987 Sponsor
49. Bill Gatti                             2006 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
50. Bud Gagel                             2006 Manager
51. Ed Gentry                             1999 Umpire
52. Helen Gilkerson                     1990 Service
53. Bill Gourley                        1992 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
54. Ernie Gouvas                     1999 District Commissioner
55. William L. Grace                     1990 Umpire
56. Al Gustafson                     2006 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
57. Mickey Harmon                     1986 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
58. Gene Harp                             1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
59. Jim Harp                             2001 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
60. John Henry                         1992 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
61. Hershel Hicks                     1989 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
62. George Hoffman                     1997 Sponsor
63. Lois Holmes                     1999 Service
64. Bill Hoover                             1983 Sponsor
65. Bill “Hoss” Hostetler             1997 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
66. Dean House                     1989 Manager
67. George Huck*                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
68. Denver Jones                     2003 District Commissioner
69. Scott Jones                     2001 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
70. Bernie Kampschmidt*             1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
71. John Kinder                     1988 Manager
72. Bob King                             1997 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
73. Paul Kingrey                     1992 Service
74. Wayne Lanter                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
75. Susan Parker Long             1999 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
76. Tom Lowe                             1987 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
77. Diana G. Lucas                     2001 Women’s Fast Pitch Player
78. Jack Lucas*                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
79. Shirley Lucas                     1983 Manager
80. John “Jackie” McCloud     1992 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
81. Dr. Ron “Doc” McFarland     1997 Sponsor
82. Leon Mattingly                     2006 Manager
83. Thomas E. Mann             2001 Umpire
84. Donnie Meredith                     1997 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
85. Eddie “Amos” Miller             1983 District Commissioner
86. Bob Mitchell                     1990 Manager
87. Claude “Monty” Monhollen*     1983 Umpire
88. Brenda Monhollon             1989 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
89. James A. Moore*             1983 State Commissioner
90. Gene Mosley                     1990 Umpire
91. Julian Moss, Sr.*                     1992 District Commissioner
92. Nora Lee Neeley             2003 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
93. Minnie Sue Nelson             1997 Women’s Fast Pitch Player
94. Gerald Parrish                     1997 Sponsor
95. Ken Perry                             1994 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
96. Brenda Kay Petty             2003 WSPP & Umpire
97. William R. “Bill” Pulliam*     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
98. Dr. Emmanuel H. Rader     1984 Sponsor
99. Gerald Ragan*                     1994 Manager
100. Jim Ramage                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
101. Donald “Don” Rardin             1983 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
102. Donnie Rardin, Jr.             1999 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
103. Brad Redmon                     2006 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
104. James Reeves*             1983 Umpire
105. Myron Reinhardt             1983 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
106. R. Wilson Rice *             1992 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
107. Alvin Rinehard                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
108. John Ritchey*                     1983 Umpire
109. Ron “Byrd” Ritter             1990 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
110. Larry Rogers                     2003 Manager
111. Irish Rollings                     2003 Umpire
112. Brenda Ross                     1997 Women’s Slow PitchPlayer
113. Dickie Russell                     1994 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
114. Cleston Saylor                     1988 Manager
115. Julius “Caesar” Schreiber*     1987 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
116. Steve “Shooter” Sharp     1997 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
117. Alberta Kohls Sims             1983 Women’s Slow PitchPlayer
118. Woodrow “Amp” Sisk             1983 District Commissioner
119. Randall Skaggs             1983 Manager
120. Joe Smiley                     1983 Sponsor
121. James Smith                     1990 Manager
122. June Smither*                     1983 Women’s Fast Pitch Player
123. Clyde B. Soper                     1987 District Commissioner
124. Harold Soper                     1999 Manager
125. Mike Sosby                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
126. Southern Belle Somerset     2006 Sponsor
127. Frank W. Sower             1983 Sponsor
128. Robert “Bob” Spencer          1988 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
129. Alan Stein                     2006 Service
130. Louis Stout                     1992 Umpire
131. Ralph “Bo” Stuntebeck     1992 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
132. Jay Tackett                     1994 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
133. Gracie Tanner                     1997 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
134. Garland Thompson             1989 District Commissioner
135. Lewis Tolle                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
136. Maxine Underwood             1983 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
137. Jim Voyles                     2003 Special Category
138. Jerry Waddle                     1989 District Commissioner
139. Norb Warken*                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
140. Bob Welch*                     1997 Service
141. “Big Bill” West*                     1983 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
142. Donna Wolfe                     1983 Women’s Slow Pitch Player
143. J. B. White*                     1984 Manager
144. Donald C. Whitford             1987 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
145. Harold “Hal” Wiggins*     1987 Men’s Slow Pitch Player
146. Bill “Willie Wilcox             1997 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
147. Rick Wilson                     2001 District Commissioner
148. Jack Wise                        1990 Men’s Fast Pitch Player
149. Rodney C. Woods             1997 Men’s Slow Pitch Player

Member of National ASA Hall of Fame listed in boldface
* Deceased

The 2006 Inductees not on the above list were honored May 13, 2006 at the Campbell House.  Their names are as follows:

Brad Redmon (Player ), Alan Stein (Special Category), Terry Cook (District Commissioner), Nick Berardi, Sr. (Sponsor & Manager), Leon Mattingly (Manager), Al Gustafson (Player), Bud Gagel (Manager), Bill Gatti (Player), and Southern Belle (Sponsor)

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