by Gordon Wise – A very important torch is going to be passed in the International Softball Congress this year, a torch which has been held in the most-capable of hands for many decades. A key player in the ISC will step back and take a new role  in this organization which has been a big part of his life.
Oct 15, 2016 – by Gordon Wise – A very important torch is going to be passed in the International Softball Congress this year, a torch which has been held in the most-capable of hands for many decades. A key player in the ISC will step back and take a new role  in this organization which has been a big part of his life.
CHARLIE SMITH has announced his retirement as Treasurer, following 14 years in that post.
Charlie succeeded his friend and mentor, Frank Porth, as Treasurer in 2002, and the organization has seen rock-solid financial leadership throughout his years of service. Before being selected for that office, Charlie had served the organization since his appointment as a Commissioner in 1986. He has served on the Executive Committee from 1994 – 2016.
But Charlie’s involvement with the ISC goes back to the beginning of the organization’s historic run in Rock Island, IL. It was then that Charlie, and his teammates on the Dautrich Realty team from El Paso, TX captured the first of two straight ISC World Tournament titles.
And his involvement with the sport itself goes way back to the years before the ISC itself was Formed. Flash back to 1944 and look in on the young Charlie Smith (just 14 and breaking into the tough El Paso Church League.) This was the beginning of a career which was to lead to adventures and “making a lot of outstanding trips and making a lot of outstanding friendships.â€
Along the way, Charlie, a first baseman throughout, racked up additional honors all Along the way. He competed in 12 NSC/ISC World Tournaments where his teams fared quite well.
In addition to the ISC championship years of 1961 and 1962, his teams finished second once, twice finished fourth and twice finished in seventh place.
His honors in the diamond sport continued with induction into the El Paso Hall of Fame in both softball and baseball and El Paso’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
His crowning honor came in 1983 when Charlie was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame.
Since 1986, he has served the ISC in a variety of posts including Commissioner of the West Texas/New Mexico Area; Southern Vice-President; as well as Treasurer of the Carrol Forbes Foundation prior to becoming ISC Treasurer in 2002.
The long track record of quality service to the sport and the organization will not end with his retirement from the Treasurer’s post. He will continue to be an active part of the ISC from his new post of Commissioner at Large.
Hats off to Charlie Smith, one of the truly fine gentlemen of our organization!
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