OFFICIAL – SOFTBALL – INDUCTED IN 2024
When injuries prevented Dave Mills from playing the game he loved, he found another way to stay involved. In addition to coaching Acton Minor Ball and being a member of the executive, he started umpiring.
The Acton native would go earn his Level 5 certification, work national championships and train the next generation of umpires. On his way to way to earning the top umpiring certification in the country, he called games on local diamonds and assisted in starting a junior umpiring program.
He worked his first of five Canadian championships in 2003, most recently umpiring at the senior men’s Canadian championship in 2018. He has also been the supervising umpire in chief at six Softball Canada championships between 2014-19.
Mills has also worked as an instructor at Softball Canada junior development clinics for Level 1, 2 and 3.
He served as a zone umpire-in-chief for Softball Ontario before becoming provincial deputy umpire-in-chief. He held that position for eight years before becoming the fastpitch provincial umpire-in-chief from 2015-2017.
In 2007, Mills was a recipient of Softball Canada’s Canadian Indicator Club, presented to acknowledge the contribution of umpires to officiating programs.
In 2010, Softball Ontario presented Mills with the Jim Bradford Memorial Award, which goes to an umpire who is an effective educator and evaluator and demonstrates leadership and a true love of the game.
Mills’ impact continues to be felt on local diamonds. He continues to umpire college, university, local and provincial events while recruiting and encourage others to get involved in umpiring, an effort that started at home. Both his son and daughter are now umpires.