Long time board member Tom O’Connor made the decision to retire earlier this year. O’Connor has been involved with PONY Baseball for over 46 years. O’Connor first became involved when he played two years in a PONY sanctioned league. He served as a Division Director of the West Region East Zone and was a member of the PONY Baseball and Softball International Board of Directors since 2006.
One memory that O’Connor is proud of is the start of the PONY-13 program. At the time the Division Director, Bob Robinson asked O’Connor to help get the program going. To this day, the PONY-13 program is a very successful international program of PONY Baseball.
O’Connor wants to recognize two people who influenced him the most during his time with PONY Baseball and Softball. Mike Ferrari recruited O’Connor to be a Bronco Coach and Terry Faust who invited O’Connor to be the Vice President of Washington Youth Baseball. In addition, Faust helped guide him along his journey with PONY Baseball and Softball.
When asked if he had any advice for the current and the future Board of Directors he stated, “Keep in mind the philosophy, two year age intervals on graduated diamonds, and the health and safety of the players.”
Having been involved in PONY for over 46 years, O’Connor firmly believed in the philosophy and implementation of the program.
Aside from PONY Baseball, O’Connor was very successful. He received his bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University in 1963, he received his Master’s of Education from Slippery Rock University in 1967 and a Honorary Doctor of Public Service from Washington and Jefferson College in 1999.
PONY Baseball and Softball thanks Tom O’Connor for his hard work and dedication he gave throughout the years and we wish him nothing but the best!