BOB MITCHELL - SSUSA FOUNDER DIES

Dec. 1, 2010 – Terry Hennessy CEO

SACRAMENTO – Bob Mitchell, the visionary founder of Senior Softball-USA, died Nov. 7.

Mitchell, 80, was the first person to take the sport to the national and international level and laid the foundation that would make Senior Softball-USA the largest senior softball organization in the world.

Inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 1999 and the first inductee into the SSUSA Hall of Fame last year, Mitchell brought hundreds of U.S. players to goodwill games in more than 30 countries.

Along the way he made many international friendships, was given the City Key in Hilo, Hawaii, and helped the Japan Ministry of Sports develop a very successful senior softball program.

In his first career, as a California Highway Patrolman for 28 years, he held the record for arresting drunk drivers.

After retiring a second time (from SSUSA in 2001), he published “Drunk Driving: Why the Carnage Continues,” a book that maps specific steps for law enforcement and court systems to successfully prevent drunk driving, saving thousands of lives.

Mitchell started Senior Softball-USA in 1987 with the grand vision of creating national recognition for the sport and giving every senior in America the opportunity to play.

“From the very beginning, I realized the sport of senior softball would take on a life of its own”, said Mitchell in a 2001 interview. “ I saw the camaraderie it promoted, not to mention the health benefits, competitiveness, and just pure fun.”

It all began in his schoolboy days back in Fort Smith, Ark. As a youth, Mitchell played all sports and was a varsity athlete for his high school. When he left high school he joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Henry W. Tucker, a U.S. destroyer. During his tenure in the military, Mitchell married his wife, Laura. The year was 1949 and Bob was 19 and Laura was 18.

It was through his stint in the Navy that Bob and Laura, who was from Dallas, Tex. were introduced to California. They liked what they saw and settled in the Golden State and after Mitchell’s tour of duty; he pursued a career in law enforcement.

Mitchell spent five and one-half years as a motorcycle officer for the Montebello Police Department and then spent the rest of his 33-year career with the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Mitchell achieved the rank of lieutenant before retiring in 1984.

Mitchell was a past president of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers in Chattanooga, Tenn. During his tenure with the California Highway Patrol, Mitchell was featured in an article in Look magazine in 1958 titled “California Patrolman.” Mitchell was one of the original “Chips” and served as a CHP motor officer from 1958 to 1966 in the Los Angeles area where the popular TV program “Chips” was filmed.

Mitchell also modeled for one of the top New York agencies, Young & Rubicon, doing several commercials and safety films, including one with former Miss America Lee Ann Merriweather, who played Catwoman in the original Batman film.

From 1951 through 1972 Bob Mitchell didn’t play any organized ball. He was busy with career and family. He graduated from Sacramento State University and the FBI National Academy in 1974.

In 1983, as he was nearing retirement, Mitchell was approached by a fellow officer and encouraged to join a Senior Softball league in Sacramento. Mitchell was concerned that the level of competition wouldn’t measure up to his expectations but it didn’t take him long to discover his concerns were unfounded. He decided to give senior ball a try and when he did, he was hooked.

Mitchell put together a senior tournament in Reno, Nev., in 1985. Today the SSUSA’s Reno National Qualifier is the fourth largest Senior Tournament in the country. He named the tournament’s organizing body “Softball USA” which was the forerunner for Senior Softball-USA.

Mitchell wanted to promote the SSUSA and he felt the best way to do it was to start his own newspaper, Senior Softball News, in 1987. The paper has grown to be America’s largest circulated senior softball publication.

Later in 1987, Mitchell was invited by Ken Maas, of the fledgling National Association of Senior Citizen Softball (NASCS) organization, to put together a couple of Senior teams and join with him on a European tour to showcase the Senior games overseas.

The 1987 Senior Tour visited Wales, Scotland and England. This was the start of what has become an annual odyssey for the SSUSA. The joint venture with Maas was short-lived, but Mitchell started his own international tours in 1988.

Mitchell’s itinerary over the next decade reads like something straight out of a world traveler’s guide, including: New Zealand (both islands), Great Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Australia, Tasmania, Hawaii (the 4 major islands), Italy, Spain, Fiji, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Ireland, Wales, England, Germany, Austria and Japan.

The World Championships didn’t come to be until 1993 but the seed was planted for the formation of this tournament in 1988. That was the year Mitchell was contacted by representatives of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) to act as a consultant regarding the formation of a Senior World Series.

“They had gotten wind of the SSUSA through news of the Reno tournaments,” said Mitchell in the 2001 interview. “They sent representatives to the Reno tournament and were extremely impressed with the enthusiasm, skills and widespread representation (teams from several states were present) of the senior athletes.”

The SGMA was convinced that a Senior Softball World Series would work and called on Mitchell to offer his expertise in helping structure the event. The SGMA’s next step was to invite other Senior Softball players, who were leaders in their respective areas, to be a part of the new organization.

The first Senior Softball World Series (SSWS) was held in 1989 in Greensboro, N.C. Teams from both the SSUA and NASCS were present at the event. The SSWS, administered by the SGMA, continued through 1992. In 1992 the SGMA dissolved their association with the SSWS. Ken Maas and the NASCS then negotiated with the SGMA for permission to use the SSWS name.

It was in 1992 Mitchell’s SSUSA parted ways with the SGMA due to a difference in philosophies and formed the SSWC.

The first SSWC was held in 1993 in Scottsdale, Ariz. By 1995 the SSWC became the number one attended Senior National/World Tournament and has maintained that position ever since.

Bob Mitchell lived by the creed “Truthfulness, accuracy, honesty and reason” and often said in difficult situations: “Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?”

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Laura of Granite Bay; daughter Cheryl Row of Granite Bay, son Steve Mitchell of Santa Maria, son Bob Mitchell Jr. of Sacramento, granddaughters Trish Mitchell, Jennifer Mitchell, Heidi Row and Kate Best.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition, PO Box 484, Grass Valley, CA, 95945.

Editor’s Note: Bob Mitchell’s family requested this letter be published with the story about his life. I wrote it to Bob shortly before his death.

-- Terry Hennessy

Dear Bob,

The memories of our friendship are like the warm rays of the sun on a brisk fall day. They warm my heart, touch my soul and will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I remember the jet nearing the ground on the first site trip we took to Belgium. It broke through the clouds in the early morning sun and forested hills and villages stretched as far as we could see. It was an enchanting sight.

There were many landscapes and magnificent vistas on the trips that took us through America and well beyond; to Japan, Australia and throughout Europe.

There were also many new friends, like Hans in Europe, Drago in Germany and Ernst in Holland, who provided fields, teams, dinners and social functions. Most of all they provided some lifelong memories – and international friendships.

But the common thread through all of the trips was our friendship; with each new experience I felt closer to you.

You introduced me to your vision of senior softball on an international level and then you welcomed me in to share it. We developed the system (now copied by many) that allowed cities to sponsor sporting events at a level never seen before – and we had fun doing it.

Most of all, we shared a goal of creating the opportunity for thousands of men and women to enjoy softball long after they thought they were through. You believed – and proved – that Grandma and Grandpa did not belong on the rocking chair on the porch. They belonged on the ballfield enjoying life and sports.

You succeeded and your vision is bearing fruit as men and women throughout America play senior softball in greater and greater numbers. The sport – and your dedication to it – has saved many lives and improved more.

Your book is a crowning achievement of an earlier lifetime, when you saved lives in a more direct way. Please rest assured that I will continue to pursue publication and distribution of your book with the knowledge that it has the capability of saving lives for many years to come.

Keep the light on in Heaven, Bob, and I’ll keep it burning down here … until we meet again.

I love you, my friend.