LUBBOCK, Texas ¨C?Dale Williams, winner of the 2013 National Collegiate Umpire Award and National College Baseball Hall of Famer, died on Sept. 18 following a long battle with a respiratory illness.

¡°Everyone involved with the National College Baseball Hall of Fame is saddened by Dale¡¯s passing,¡± said Mike Gustafson, Hall of Fame president and CEO. ¡°We send our deepest sympathies to all of Dale¡¯s family and friends. Many of us were fortunate enough to get to know Dale over the years, and most especially when he was in Lubbock. We¡¯re glad to share a piece of his memory and that we were able to honor his contributions to the game we all love.¡±

Williams spent 32 years as a collegiate umpire. In that time, he worked eight NCAA Division I College World Series, the 1984 Olympic Games and many games in the regional rounds at all levels within the game. He also served in a variety of leadership roles within collegiate umpiring including time as coordinator of umpires for the Big West Conference, the Western Athletic Conference and the Pac-10 Southern Division.

In addition to his baseball work, Williams was a head linesman in the National Football League for 23 years, working two Super Bowls.

For more on Williams¡¯ contributions to college baseball, click here.