Deaver, John W.

IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING ABILITY AS A SOFTBALL PLAYER MANAGER. COMMISSIONER, AND PRESIDENT OF ASA. HE WAS NAMED THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF THE KENTUCKY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION AND SERVED 30 YEARS 1933 - 1963. AND SERVED TWO YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, 1955 - 1956-THE WORLD'S LARGEST SPORTS ORGANIZATION.

HE PLAYED WITH AND MANAGED MANY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS. HE WAS A PIONEER IN ORGANIZING FAST PITCH IN 1933 WHICH HAD ITS ORIGIN IN NEWPORT AND COVINGTON. KENTUCKY. AFTER WORLD WAR II, HE PREVAILED UPON GENE MARTIN. ASA SECRETARY. TO ORGANIZE SLOW PITCH. THE SECOND ASA SLOW PITCH TOURNAMENT WAS PLAYED IN LOUISVILLE. KENTUCKY, IN 1954, AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

HE CONDUCTED STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS FOR MEN AND WOMEN. HE PLAYED A LEADING PART IN ORGANIZING NATIONAL SOFTBALL WEEK. AN ANNUAL ALL-STAR GAME, THE NATIONAL YOUTH PROGRAM. AND THE FORMATION OF THE NATIONAL SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME AND HONOR.