First Woman Named National Softball Executive Director
Senior Softball-USA Appoints Fran Dowell

SACRAMENTO, CA (April 28, 2006) – The largest senior softball organization in America today appointed the first woman Executive Director in the history of the sport.

“We are proud to announce the appointment of Fran Dowell as our new Executive Director,” said Terry Hennessy, Chief Executive Officer of Senior Softball-USA.

Dowell had previously served as National Tournament Director and Marketing Director for Senior Softball-USA,

Sacramento-based Senior Softball-USA is the largest of the 10 national softball associations offering senior softball programs. There are an estimated 2 million softball players over 50 in the United States. Of those 2 million players, about 30,000 compete at the national level.

“Fran Dowell began with us in 1998 as a part-time bookkeeper and greatly exceeded our expectations in every job we gave her,” said Hennessy. “She flat out earned the position. She has become one of the best known people in the sport in America and one of the most respected.”

As National Tournament Director, Dowell increased the number of cities in which Senior Softball-USA held tournaments from 35 in 2005 to 51 in this year. As Marketing Director, she was able to increase corporate and city sponsorships at a time when softball budgets were being cut by companies throughout the country. As Office Manager, Dowell helped lay the foundation for the growth that made Senior Softball-USA the clear leader in the sport.

“Customer service is a priority at Senior Softball-USA – that means caring about the managers and players we get to speak with each day,” said Dowell. “That is the underlying reasons for our growth and success.

“In addition, we are looking forward to exceptional growth in our major tournaments,” said Dowell, “and working closely with sponsors to build great prize packages.”

Senior Softball-USA was founded in 1988. Today, in addition to 40 National Qualifying tournaments in the United States and Canada, Senior Softball-USA runs 11 Regional, National and World Championships, publishes the quarterly newspaper, Senior Softball News, publishes the sport’s rulebook and holds international tournaments.

In 2005, Senior Softball-USA generated approximately $139 million in economic impact for the host cities through its 35 tournaments.

Over the past 18 years, Senior Softball-USA has brought American teams to more than 20 countries to promote senior softball. This year US teams will compete throughout Italy in October and in Tokyo, Japan in November.

For more information, see www.seniorsoftball.com

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Fran you are the best congratulations. Well Deserved.
Joe Lecak
Old School 40's

I think that it was a very wise decision on Terry's part and the others to have chosen Fran to this elite group to assist the senior programs . She is very bright, extremely pleasant to converse with, and I know will be a valuabe asset. This is Terry's best movement since allowing the U II. CONGRATULATIONS FRANNIE........larry.