THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220226
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
PORTSMOUTH'S RICHARD ``Bullet'' Alexander is going to participate in the 1966 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Alexander has been selected as one of five American umpires in baseball for the Summer Olympics. Seventeen umpires from throughout the world have been chosen.
``It's the biggest thrill of my life,'' said Alexander, a retired captain in the Portsmouth Fire Department who has been umpiring since 1963.
``Some really fine things have happened to me,'' he added. ``I always felt that being picked as the most valuable player on my high school football team was the highlight of my life in sports. Then in 1991, I was given the Bud Metheny Award by Old Dominion and that was another special time.
``But this has to be the ultimate for an umpire, the pinnacle of my career. I can't tell you how elated I am - for my city and my state as well as for myself. I doubt if you ever see anyone else from Portsmouth, Va., umpiring in the Olympics.''
The other four American umpires are from Florida, Texas, California and Missouri.
``Other than being notified of my selection, I haven't received any details about my assignments,'' said Alexander. ``I expect we will be there about two weeks and probably will be housed in Olympic Village. And we will march in at the opening of the Games.
``The baseball games will be played in the new Olympic Stadium, which will be the home of the Atlanta Braves in the future.''
A three-sport athlete at Wilson High School, Alexander was the football MVP in 1946. He also was a member of the school's undefeated 1947 state championship football team.
Alexander also played baseball and basketball for the Presidents.
He began umpiring at the high school level in 1963, advancing to college games in 1965. In 1968, he was an alternate in the International League, a position he has filled since.
He still works Atlantic Coast Conference baseball and conducts an annual umpires school in Portsmouth. ILLUSTRATION: ``Bullet'' Alexander is one of five baseball umpires invited to
the summer games in Atlanta. ``This has to be the ultimate for an
umpire, the pinnacle of my career,'' he says.
by CNB