Local retired Georgia High School Association umpire Frank Brown has been recognized by the association for his 23 years of dedicated service.

A member of the Flint River Umpiring Association in Cairo, Brown, a retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force, began umpiring Georgia High School Association games in 1987,

He recalls that his first assignment was a double header between the Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Early County High School Bobcats at the old Bearcat Field, where the Decatur County Memorial Coliseum now sits.

“Rusty Josey, a long time Georgia High School Association umpire, and one of my dear friends, was my partner at that first game in 1987,” Brown recalled.

“In the first game, I umpired behind the plate and Rusty umpired on the bases, and in the second game, Rusty umpired behind the plate and I umpired on the bases.” he said.

Brown, who has also umpired Georgia High School Association softball games and Bainbridge Leisure Services baseball and softball games, received a plaque from Georgia High Association Executive Director Ralph Swearngin. Swearngin praised him for his great dedication to duty.

“Franklin Albert Brown is honored for his knowledge of the rules of the game and his impartial application of those rules in the athletic contests he officiated,” Swearngin wrote.

During his tenure in the United States Air Force, Brown umpired games in various parts of the country and the world.