ASA Hall Of Fame - Continued

Hoffman spoke of Lynn Renner's ability to push to the limit her game in order to help her team's chances of winning.
Lynn Renner said, "George and I met through softball and today softball is still a gig part of your lives as both of our daughters are playing softball at the collegian level."
Tami Lovett and Barb Babb spoke next on behalf of their former coach Ray Roberson. Babb said, "Ray taught us to win with dignity and lose with grace" about her former coach. Lovett added, "His wife is looking down on all of us gathered tonight and she is saying Ray, where in the world did you get that tie?"
I spite of suffered a heart attack only four weeks earlier Roberson knew he had to attend tonight because this honor by the Illinois ASA means everything to him. In accepting his award Roberson thanked the ASA Hall of Fame Committee, his players and his sponsor in his thirty plus years of coaching women's softball.
Gary Rosendohl was introduced by his daughter, Alicia who said, "…this man known to his teammates as 'Rosy' not only accomplished many great things in his softball career, but he is also my father. I am please an honored to present this award to my dad."
In accepting his award Gary Rosendohl said, "I'd like to thank the selection committee, this honor is greatly appreciated and I never expected it."
Umpire Paul Tomazzoli was inducted next with Jerry Stewart doing the presentation to those in the audience. Steward said, "It gives me great pleasure to do this tonight for Paul. I've known Paul for quite a long time. Paul umpired for me for many years. Anytime I needed something done I could always call on Paul and I always did."
During his emotional acceptance speech Tomazzoli took the time to thank his wife of forty-one years and all of the people who helped him along the way.
The late Jim Westbrook was inducted next with his brother Paul Westbrook making the presentation by saying, "I like to thank the Hall of Fame Committee for their hard work and I'd like to tell them that they got it right. Jimmy was the best third baseman I ever saw play the game of softball." Jerry Steward than accepted his brothers Illinois ASA Hall of Fame plaque before passing it on to Jim's wife Dorothy who was beaming with pride in the audience.
Darrell Kehl was the next person at the microphone as he presented his good friend Butch Woods into the Hall of Fame. Kehl described Woods by saying, "He was a fearsome competitor who gave one hundred percent every game every night and Butch, you are indeed a Hall of Famer."
Woods the stalwart catcher from the Bloomington area thanked his teammates, managers and sponsors for all that they had done to help him in his pursuit of his love, the game of softball.
Dan Highland, ASA President made the evenings last award presentation, the John Rowe/Chuck McCord Award. This award goes to an ASA staff member for service to the Illinois ASA. The 2004 winner of the John Rowe/Chuck McCord Award went to Jerry Akers from Sidney.
Akers accepted the award with these four words, "Thanks for the memories."
The evening was concluded with a raffle of items donated by various ASA Commissioners from around the state of Illinois.