Community is a value central to Bob Papich's life.  He has spent a lifetime furthering the interests of his local Rockford community, and much of that time helping to create and develop Rockford's softball programs.  He was instrumental in the growth of USSSA softball in Rockford, notes Illinois state director Brenda Paulson. In fact, throughout northern Illinois.  

Along the way, Papich has picked up a number of titles.  Besides serving as the manager for Rockford's Sportscore Complex for 17 years, Papich has been a teacher, counselor, organizer, umpire, sanctioning body official, and association president. He's also accrued an enviable circle of  loyal and respectful friends.  One of those friends, 2001 Illinois USSSA Hall inductee Dewey Everts, calls Papich one of the most deserving inductees, and praises him for his willingness to go the extra mile for the program he has administered. 

"It if was for the betterment of the program he took the time to adjust," notes Everts.  "Bob was always open to improving his programs."  

"He was always checking on something," adds Paulson.  "I don't think he ever had an idle moment.  He did the work of three people."  

Hundreds of players who may not have spoken to Papich will remember him as the omnipresent supervisor at Sportscore, riding around on his golf cart, checking on every detail, big and small.

"His effort was always taken for granted, except by those of us who know him best," says Everts. "There was always that knowledge that if Bob did it, it was done right."  

The long list of tasks Papich handled well includes supervising grounds and field maintenance, staff supervision, tournament direction, promotion, scheduling and even umpiring.  Papich has worked in various capacities with the USSSA since 1974.  In that year, before the development of the Sportscore and such other Rockford facilities as Forest Hills Diamonds, Papich put together the first women's slow pitch program in Rockford.  It started out with just 10 teams, but grew quickly.  

"It kind of exploded," says Papich. "There was a lot of interest in women's softball at the time and we (soon) had a waiting list."

From 1981 to 1983, Papich helped oversee the development and construction of the Sportscore. The spacious, eight diamond facility transformed Rockford into a viable site for state and national softball tournaments. But it was not just the structures which made the Sportscore a great place to play softball.  People clearly matter to Papich, both those who play the games and those who work at the facility.  

"The customers at the Sportscore are individuals," says Papich, "and we tried to provide individual attention as best we could."  

Papich did his best to lead by example and expected the staff to follow.  

"Bob's people skills are excellent," agrees Paulson. "You could always talk with Bob. He always had time for you." 

As loyal as Papich is to the USSSA, he is ecumenical regarding softball sanctioning bodies.  

"There's room for a variety of organizations to compete," he said. "The object is to keep people involved with the game of softball."  

Over the years, Papich has worked with the USSSA and ASA, among others, in both slow pitch and fast pitch events.  

"My interest is the game of softball," Papich explains simply.  "I want to see it flourish.  Softball benefits people socially just as much as it does physically.  We need recreation facilities for adults to work off the stresses of life. In today's society, with computers and such, we've begun to be less of a social society. Recreational complexes serve a real purpose in this regard."  

Now retired from the Park District, Papich continues to work in the sports field in several capacities.  He umpires both slow and fast pitch for the USSSA, and for girls high school games.  In addition, he's the President of SODA, the Sportsplex Owners and Developers Association, a national organization dedicated to developing and improving amateur sports facilities throughout the United States.