During the past forty years Irv Porter has worn many different uniforms, starting as a player for eighteen years on teams that won four state titles and played in nine world tournaments. Porter has also been an Area and the first Northern IL Regional Director for the Illinois USSSA along with his current position of umpire. This year Porter completed his twentieth year of umpiring which has included calling games at seven different world tournaments. He has also attended numerous USSSA National Umpire Clinics and has also taught at these clinics for over ten years.

“As an umpire, Irv approaches the game the way he did as a player, with hustle, dedication and determination,” said 2002 Hall of Fame inductee Bob Papich. “It made little difference to him if it were Co-Rec or a women’s game, the hustle was and is always there.”

Porter also has co-authored two USSSA rule changes with Illinois USSSA State Director Brenda Paulson that were passed and became USSSA National rules. The first, which allows a team to start and finish a game with a minimum of nine players, etc. and the homerun penalties used in the Men’s programs.

“Irv has added more to the Illinois By-Laws and Playing Rules than any other Director,” said Paulson. “Irv has always tried to change the game for the betterment of its participants. Irv’s enthusiasm has always been contagious.”

The Illinois Softball Report magazine that Porter started in the spring of 1997 has since been converted to an internet web based magazine, which took place in the fall of 2002. The internet has allowed I.S.R. to bring the softball player tournament results in a much faster manner that included such items as tournament recaps, game photos, as well as up coming tournament brackets.

From Major to the “E” level, Irv is always prepared to do his job, willing to go anywhere at anytime to umpire. This also helped him to be inducted into another association’s 16” Illinois Hall of Fame.