Succeeding softball’s “Grand Old Man” Don Porter, Canada’s Dale McMann was appointed President of the International Softball Federation at the ISF Congress in Cartagena, Colombia.
The long-time president previously announced his retirement from the position as of the end of this Congress.
MCMann praised Porter’s 48 years of service with the organization.
“I am honored with the great trust the membership of the International Softball Federation has offered me,” McMann said. “I want to acknowledge the many decades of service Mr. Don Porter has given to our sport and I look forward to his continued guidance and efforts. It is a daunting challenge for me to follow Don Porter’s long list of accomplishments.”
McMann served as President of Softball British Columbia from 1986 to 1990 before serving as President of Softball Canada from 1990 to 2001. He acted as North American Vice President of the International Softball Federation from 1993 to 2009 before being elected First Vice-President in 2009.
Don Porter joined the International Softball Federation as Secretary General in 1965 before being elected President in 1987. Porter has done an excellent job of developing the sport of softball throughout his tenure, including softball’s presence in the Olympic Games from 1996 to 2008. He is also currently co-President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).
Porter, who helped lead an unsuccessful bid to put softball back in the Olympics, says it is time for new leadership and supported McMann for the ISF president position.
“We have not given up our efforts to see softball and baseball returned to the Olympic program, as there are still millions of young girls and boys who would like to participate in our sports and we want to give them that opportunity,” Porter said. “Thank you to all those who have supported, counseled and provided much-needed input during those many years and to the athletes: “Don’t ever give up!”
This story first appeared in the blog, The Sport Intern. The editor is Karl-Heinz Huba of Lorsch, Germany. He can be reached at ISMG@aol.com. The article is reprinted here with permission of Huba.