OBITUARIES - 2/15/18

Feb. 1, 2018

Johnny Roe Andrews

Johnny Andrews, 81, of Montgomery, Ala., died on Jan. 13.

Andrews was inducted into the Softball Players Association (SPA) Hall of Fame in 2006.

Within SSUSA, he most recently played in the 2017 original Tournament of Champions with Gray Sox 80s.

Jud Gebben, manager of Gray Sox 80’s said this of Andrews:
“Johnny Andrews joined our Pfeiffer Grey Sox team in 2016. Our team is made up of northerners, so it was great to welcome Johnny, a southerner to our team. Johnny fit right in. He loved softball and played with gusto. Johnny was a great team member. In all aspects of the game, the team was always first. Dinnertime was always fun as Johnny would spin tales about living in Alabama. He had a great sense of humor. Most importantly, Johnny was a gentleman in all aspects of life. He truly cared about people.”

Andrews also played with ProHealth Care (80), Joseph Chevrolet (75), Premium Seats USA (75), and Ed’s Aluminum Buildings (65 and 70), among others. He also served as manager of Southern Pride (70 and 75).

“John will always be remembered as a good player, teammate and a great person to be around,” said John Zoccano, manager of Joseph Chevrolet.

Andrews held a B.S. degree in Resources Management from Troy State University, Montgomery, and served in Communication Security with the U.S. Air Force from September 1956-1960. He was stationed at Sewart AFB in Smyrna, Tenn., and served abroad in Korea for 21 months.

Andrews is survived by his children, Angela, Allyson, and John; and grandchildren, Allysa, Kelcy, Joseph-Lee, and Spencer.

Theodore Roosevelt Lawson

Ted Lawson, 82, of Reisterstown, Md., died on Jan. 13. Within SSUSA, Lawson was a long-time member of the Hamels organization.

"I've known Ted Lawson for upwards of 25 years or so,” said Don Brooks, SSUSA national director. “He managed a couple local (Glen Burnie, MD) teams, and was involved with me helping with the Crabtown Classic for a few years. He then went on to manage the Hamel's teams. I had the opportunity to play with Ted at the World Championships held in Sacramento in 2000.”

Lawson was inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2012 in the Pioneer Manager category.

Tom Canning, a player with the Hamels organization, had this to say of Ted during his induction:
"There is not a sport that Ted has not tried and has been successful in most. He certainly would meet any of the three Hall of Fame categories, Manager, Player or Pioneer. In 25 years of senior softball, he has been a player, manager and been selected to six All-Tournament teams and has won seven championship rings."

Lawson served in the 175th Infantry 29th Division of the Maryland National Guard and worked as a Contracts Manager for AIRINC.

He was also an assistant baseball coach at McDaniel College, and ran several softball tournaments.

Lawson is survived by his wife, Dorothea, and children Mark and Beth, his granddaughters, Taylor, Casey and Megan, and his great grandson Liam.