AUBURN – Norm Davis of Fairview Avenue, Auburn, synonymous with the Amateur Softball Association in Maine, New England and across the country, has been selected for induction into the National Softball Association Hall of Fame in the Meritorious Service Category.

The prestigious nomination came last week while Davis was attending the National ASA annual meeting in Tucson, Arizona. The induction will take place next November at the National ASA meeting slated for Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“It’s a real honor,” said Davis, who began his softball career many years ago as a slugger who used to wallop homers into the canal at the old Bates Mill field in Lewiston.

Davis started his umpiring career in 1964. He was appointed Lewiston-Auburn’s Andy Valley Softball Umpires Association Umpire-in-Chief in 1974, and in 1984, he was appointed the State of Maine UIC, a position that he held for 15 years. He has officiated in three ASA National Championships: 1981 Men’s Major Modified Pitch; 1984 Women’s Major Slow Pitch; and 1987 Women’s Major Slow Pitch.

In 1989, Davis was appointed to the National Umpire Staff representing Region I, New England, a position he still holds. As a member of the National Staff, he has served as the National Championship UIC for over 55 national championships.

The Hall of Fame nominee represented the ASA as a clinician for 3 weeks in 1997 in England, Germany, Italy and Turkey at Air Force bases.

Davis has been an instructor in over 30 national umpire schools in 29 states, including 2 schools in Maine. He also combined and edited suggestions from the National Staff on rule checks for mistakes and omissions.

Among his many honors is induction into the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

Retiring in 1989 from the shoe business where he served as plant manager for two shoe companies, he attended college nightly for three years and now works as an Education Technician for the Litchfield School Department. He has worked with children with learning disabilities, now involved with students in K-2. Davis serves as coach of the boys basketball team at Carrie Ricker Middle School in Litchfield.