A 23-year veteran of USSSA umpiring who has found the time to give back to the game of softball.  Milt Norse of Rockford traveled the State of Illinois during the 1980s, teaching umpire clinics each spring and during the summer would umpire wherever USSSA softball was being played.  He always had a friendly smile and took the time to say hello to not only his fellow umpires, but he is a man who remembered the players and the players’ children as well.  He knew that the game of softball which provided him with a few extra dollars, would not exist without the players and fans of the game of softball.  He has attended USSSA National Umpiring Clinics in Nashville, Tenn.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Chicago and Rockford.  He has been selected to work in 17 consecutive USSSA Women’s National Invitational Tournaments held annually in Rockford.  

He was also selected to work the USSSA Men’s Class B World Tournament in St. Louis, Mo., in 1979.  This game him the opportunity to see how umpires from other areas around the Midwest worked the game of softball.  If Rockford was the host site for a USSSA Tournament over Labor Day Weekend, you could be sure Milt Norse would be selected to umpire this prestigious event.  

Sportsmanship has always been the number one item on his agenda as an umpire.  He demanded that the rules be observed and that fair play was given to both teams.  Sportsmanship would be required from not only both teams, but from himself at all times.  

Milt’s love of the game of softball has kept him near the game he wants to be associated with.  He has found that the Illinois USSSA tries to run all their events at a top notch level.  He feels that the Illinois USSSA takes the time and gives the effort to teach and train their umpires so that quality remains each and every year, even after some of the top umpires have decided to step down from umpiring.