We are saddened to share the news of the passing of Jim Williamson (“JRW”) Few people have had a bigger impact on me, or for that matter, the game than Jim Williamson. Jim was a pioneer, helping, with Pat Bucknell, to create a “fastpitch organization for fastpitch players”. He was all about the players, and making it a good experience for all. I had the privilege to get to know Jim back in the 1990’s, some thirty (30) years ago. We traded hundreds of emails over the years, everything from his Christmas cards, to tournament news and announcements, and of course, the ubiquitous brackets that he was a master at. He, and NAFA becames synonymous with the “Three-Game-Guarantee”, which assured teams of more than that “0 and 2 and BBQ” short weekend. He made those extra games mean something. There was nobody better at creating, or fixing tournament brackets. (that engineering background, no doubt) He could see things that others missed. Find and fix errors before the event would start. Don’t make a team repeat an opponent earlier in the tournament. Don’t make teams have to race from one location to another without giving them enough time to do it. Talk to anyone that played for him, or at his tournaments, and they will tell you the same thing, he was all about the players and making fastpitch a great experience. If Jim was involved in running a tournament, you knew it was going to be well organized and that that bracket would “come corrrect”.
Later, after he was inducted to the Hall of Fame at NAFA, he moved on to help make the ISC II the great community that it became. He enjoyed the advent of Ballpark Radio for the ISC II division because it built upon the foundation for the intermediate levels of the game that he created and that brought so many to the ballpark. He and I collaborated on posting updates to tournament brackets, including the ISC bracket so that players and fans could follow their teams, or favorite teams. “I’ll take the night shift” he would tell me, our email inboxes littered with scores and updates. Jim was 88 when he passed away. I miss him. Christmas won’t be the same without his annual missive.
We invite readers to share their comments below and on the official legacy site, at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Yakima. A visitation will be held on Saturday from 5 to 7pm at the funeral home.’
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Valley Hills, 2600 Business Lane. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Memorial Home Care Services, 1208 South 48th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98908 or to a charity of your choice.
