Peninsula Sports Officials Association

​​​​Our story begins in 1967, when Major Irv Kennedy, who was on special assignment from Camp Parks working on the Peninsula, promoted the idea of forming a unified umpire association with the intent of improving communication and the overall quality of umpires through better training. Irv, who was a career military man had been stationed around the world and had been to the Major Fast Pitch Championship as an umpire.  He had worked basketball games locally and built a network of local umpires who were supportive of his idea.

The first year of the Redwood City Umpire Association was 1968.  Edward Hume, a lawyer was brought in to set up the association and was the first president.  Irv was appointed the first Umpire in Chief (UIC).  Lonnie Hartman was the Vice President, Bill Paulson (from the Redwood City Recreation Department) was Secretary, and Dean (Red) O’Neil was the Treasurer. Up until this time each City Recreation Department scheduled games and hired their own umpires directly.

Some Recreation Departments had training and some expected the umpires to learn on their own.  The first uniform was JC Penney navy work clothes similar to what repairmen wear. The hats were plain navy blue or black short bill hats with no insignias or emblems.   Many umpires wore metal baseball cleats or golf shoes. The original pay was $5.00 per game for fast or slow pitch games.  Later the pay went to $7.50 per game for fast pitch (2 game nights) and $5.00 per game (3 game nights) for slow pitch games.  There were no time limits for games.

Some of the original umpires were Dean O’Neill, Joe Griggs, Bobby Jones, Lonnie Hartman, Sammy Reynoso, Jim Handly, Larry Brown, Ron Fisher, Bruno Ricci, Harry Horn, Craig Brown and Bill Johnson.

Then things began to change, Major Kennedy became a Lieutenant Colonel and was transferred out of the area.  The void was filled by Ron Fisher’s wife; Patty. She took over the dispatching (assigning) umpires. Eventually more cities contracted with the RCUA and a rookie umpire named Art David became the treasurer.  Meanwhile Bill Wooten replaced Bill Paulson as softball supervisor for Redwood City’s Recreation Department and eventually succeeded Alfred “Red” Morton as ASA commissioner.

Joe Griggs was the new UIC but as the association grew with added city contracts, the workload became too much for one UIC and the association was divided into North and South divisions with Art becoming the UIC for the South and Joe remaining UIC for the North.

By the early 1970’s ASA had gone to using the light blue mailman shirt.  Each year umpires had to sew on a new patch with the current year on it.  Umpires still wore the JC Penney work pants but by the mid 1970’s the double knit pants were starting to become popular to wear instead.  Eventually ASA began to sell umpire uniforms and their logo was on the shirts and hats upon purchase. 

After a long legal battle between another local Umpire Association and the IRS over a workman’s compensation issue it was obvious that the legal structure of the RCUA had to change.  The RCUA disbanded to reform as the PSOA under a different status.

The new association became a non-profit organization, all umpires now signed independent contractor oaths and the PSOA began to issue 1099 forms.  Art David retired around this time and started a side business scheduling officials for flag football, basketball, volleyball and some youth baseball.

​Art passed away in the late 1990’s and after many growing pains, confusion, and problems the association emerged much as it looks today. For the last twelve (12) years the association progressed through the millennium under the leadership of Michael Simon.  Michael stepped down in 2013 and the new Board is leading the association into the green and electronic era.

Over the years the RCUA/PSOA has had the distinct honor of having four of its members hold the title of Northern California ASA Umpire-In-Chief.  The first was Lonnie Hartman in 1975 followed by Joe Griggs in 1977, then by Art David in 1982 and after Art’s passing Pete Sakelarios in 1997.

​The PSOA continues annually to have members selected to umpire in National ASA tournaments around the country.  Also many of our members continue to attend ASA national Umpire Schools.