Beichley, District 62 administrator, dies

Don Beichley, who just completed his 16th year as District 62

administrator for Little League baseball, died Oct. 25, said Beichley’s

assistant, Mark Groh, on Monday.

The 73-year-old Beichley died of natural causes, Groh said, although

he had battled prostrate cancer for the past two years in addition to

suffering two previous strokes.

Fittingly, a memorial service was held for Beichley, who could be seen

each summer at the District 62 Tournament of Champions and District 62

All-Star Tournament, on Oct. 29 at the playing fields at Westminster

Little League.

Groh, who has been appointed by the league to assume Beichley’s

position until the next election, which will be held in 2002, eulogized

Beichley as a man “who fulfilled his dream -- a lifetime of service to

the children of Little League baseball. I was impressed by Don’s

insistence that Little League baseball is good when played by the rules,

and that adult interference cannot be tolerated.”

Beichley coached at Huntington Valley Little League, and, after

managing, became the chief umpire. Later, he went on to become president

of Huntington Valley Little League.

In 1984, Beichley ran for the district administrator position and, in

a hotly contested election, won by a unanimous vote of the league

presidents, Groh said. Ten years ago, Little League baseball introduced

its Challenger Division, a program designed for mentally and physically

challenged players. Beichley, Groh said, embraced the program with open

arms and regularly attended games.