PITCHING LEGEND BILLIE HARRIS AND LONGTIME DIRECTOR OTIS ROWLAND HEADED FOR HALL OF FAME

Sept. 1, 2010 – Senior Softball-USA

SACRAMENTO – Legendary pitcher Billie Harris of Arizona was selected as the 2010 Senior Softball-USA Hall of Fame Player and National Director Otis Rowland of California was named Hall of Fame Director.

This is the second year of the SSUSA Hall of Fame selections.

“We feel that limiting the selection to two people per year maintains the prestige of the award,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA chief executive officer. “Both Billie and Otis epitomize some of the best aspects of the sport and we are proud to announce their selections.”

Billie Harris was inducted into the Arizona Softball Hall of Fame in 1979, the National Softball Hall of Fame in 1982, the Tucson Softball Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Arizona Hall of Fame in 2009.

“Billie has left an indelible mark on the sport of softball,” said Hennessy. “She was the first African-American player on Arizona’s first all-women’s softball team during the ‘50s and ‘60s.

“Later, Billie played on the Saints women’s senior softball team for several years, “ he said. “Billie represents much more than the game of softball; she provides an exceptional example of excellence in life.”

Otis Rowland, 73, a career Marine officer who retired as a major after 31 years, introduced softball to Okinawa, Japan, during his tours there, coached both men’s and women’s All-Marine Softball teams in the 1970s and ‘80s, was SSUSA Umpire-In-Chief for two years and currently is the SSUSA National Director/ Rules.

“Otis is a treasure for the sport,” said Hennessy, “bringing rich experience and true understanding of all aspects of the sport as player, coach, official and director.”