Ken Paulson had a hand in just about every aspect of the Illinois USSSA from the mid 70's to the early 90's. As a coach, umpire, organizer, program and tournament director, Paulson was one of the keys to making the organization a viable force in softball.

"I think above all, he wanted to be a part of a first class organization and set out to make USSSA in the state of Illinois the best organization to play in," said long time friend, colleague and fellow Hall of Famer Bob Papich.

From his start in 1974, until he retirement in 1996, Paulson worked with and around some of the best individuals to work in Illinois USSSA softball. In 1976 he umpired the Men's A Regional, working the finals with another Hall of Famer Vic DiGiovanni. Paulson attended his first National Umpires Clinic in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in 1977. In 1979 with Ken Franzen, IL State Umpire-in-chief, he started giving State Umpire Clinics not only in Rockford but through out Illinois. Reflecting the respect he'd earned over a decade of umping, he was chosen to give the National Clinic in Milwaukee in 1988.

"He knew the rule book as well as anybody that I ever came across," said Papich. "His preparation for rule book interpretation meetings was over and above what you would expect. Ken would bring in several poles and a cross bar that would be set up at the ten foot level so that umpires would get the feel of calling balls and strikes. He really cared about the Illinois umpires and wanted them to be the best in the USSSA. His enthusiasm was contagious amongst the umpires."

It wasn't just officials that Paulson inspired and challenged with his high expectations. His first involvement in softball was as coach of a Women's team from 1974-1981 and participated in numerous State, National Invitational Tournaments and World Tournaments in Class A and B, before there were Divisional Tournaments.

"As a coach of a woman's slo-pitch team he was a great teacher," said Papich. "He expected his players to hit behind the runner and move them more than a base. He taught fundamentals and his team was always competitive."

So were the leagues his teams played in. Paulson started the Viking Lanes Women's league in 1978, considered the best competitive league in the area, with yet another Hall of Famer, Bob Parvin. That same year Paulson became a USSSA Director, and was active until 1993; though still considered a Director, he's totally inactive. Except when the State Director corners him for an opinion. Among his titles, Paulson as the first Men's State coordinator in the history of the USSSA, and chairman of the 16” Program for 4 years. Finally, as a tournament director he was able to make the hard calls and that, as most tournament directors know, does not always endear you to the teams and players.

"The efforts that Ken put into the slow-pitch game, in the state of Illinois, helped make the USSSA the group you wanted to play if you wanted to be the best and to play against the best," said Papich.

That's an opinion seconded by his state director and wife, Brenda Paulson. "If it had not been for Ken's support and dedication to the program, the Illinois USSSA would not be nearly the program it has been. Countless Umpire clinics, earlier years of league meetings, road trips through out Illinois and the rest of the Great Lakes/Central Division and numerous Division and National Meetings. His knowledge of the rules and the history behind the rule is second to none.  Last, but not least, the financial backing he has given the IL USSSA  during the early years. His obsession became my obsession as well."