Softball Olympic Trailblazer, Don Porter, Dies at 90

The trailblazer who is believed to have brought the softball to the Olympics, died on June 7, Sunday. Also known as Don E. Porter, the man to have earned championships at all levels of softball championship is survived by his wife, Jean who is 7o years old, three children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. He died in his Oklahoma City home.

Don Porter’s Career.

In 1965, the pioneering champion served as the first Secretary-General of the International Softball Federation. Like any other great leader, he spent around 26 years as the president of the organization. From 1998-2013, he also served as the chief executive officer of the Federation. From the initial years of his career until his death, he kept on emphasizing the need of taking softball to the Olympics. Throughout his career and beyond, he has filed several petitions to the International Olympic Committee. Porter had literally made Oklahoma City, the Mecca of softball.

From 1963-98, Porter served as the Amateur Softball Association’s executive director for around 35 years. In 1966, he moved to Oklahoma City where he built the Hall of Fame Stadium. This stadium became the home of the ultra-successful Women’s College World Series, and it was named after Porter for many years.

Porter Speaks during WBSC Presentation.

During his presentation for the World Baseball Softball Confederation on Sept. 8, 2013, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he said that “It was an amazing 20-year struggle, and only his refusal to be shoved to the sidelines and his ability to get on the IOC finally produced the dream,” said John Brooks, the legendary Oklahoma sportscaster who first was associated with ASA in the 1960s. “The WCWS is not here today if not for Porter and Stanley (Draper Jr., of the Sports Association), and softball is not an Olympic sport if not for the relentless battle he (Porter) never gave up on.”

Don Porter’s Life Beyond Softball.

Porter spent the early years of life in San Fernando, California. In the early years, he played California semi-pro football. Porter also played football and baseball at East Los Angeles College while he was studying journalism, and studied law at LaSalle Extension University. Later, both in the NFL and the Big Eight, he became a football official. With sports being his first love, he also served in the Army, during the Korean War (1951-52). The Minister of the Defense Republic of Korea awarded him the Korean War Medal in 2001 for his stupendous job.

Porter’s softball administration.

During the softball administration of Porter, he served as one of the members of the World Games, and also the first secretary-general. The World Games was a multi-sport event that took to stage 16-sports all from 59 different countries. Porter was appointed to the IOC Press Commission by IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch in 1994. From 1968 to 1998, he served as one of the board of directors in the U.S. Olympic Committee. Porter has many first to his name. From 1995 to 1997, he served in the Oklahoma Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports as president. He also worked as the first chairman of the Sooner State Games, which was a multi-sport event that included around 35 sports. Porter was named as one of the top 100 contributors to sports in the Oklahoman state’s history in 2007.

WBSC president Riccardo Fraccari on Porter legacy.

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, who joined Porter in the push for the return of baseball and softball to the Olympics, said: “The WBSC and the entire softball community mourn the loss of Don Porter, the main architect of the internationalization of softball. Through his vision, efforts & decades of service, softball became an Olympic sport for the first time in 1996. Our long-lasting friendship is full of special memories. He helped to establish, build, and name the WBSC. He will be remembered forever as one of the most influential leaders in the history of the sport of softball, which is now played in over 130 countries around the world.”

Porter was also a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) board of directors from 1968 to 1988 and was one of the members of the World Games. He served six terms on the executive council of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and was also on the executive council of the Association of Summer Olympic Sports Federations (ASOIF).