Three dedicated Little League® volunteers were officially named the newest District Administrators to join the Little League International Advisory Board at its annual fall meeting in October 2019.
The three new members of the Advisory Board are Chet Cooper (Ohio), Jim Dean (Ontario), and Bob Sherrill (Virginia), replacing Franklin Stivers (Kentucky) and Glen Lindsay (Alberta), who have each concluded their four-year term on the Board, and Eric Pearson (Florida), who is departing the Advisory Board to take a seat on the Little League International Board of Directors.
“The dedicated volunteers who make up the Little League International Advisory Board provide our organization with input and insight from the field to help grow the program at the local level, while proudly representing their regions, districts, and local leagues,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “We are grateful Franklin, Glen, and Eric who have completed their service on the Board and are looking forward to welcoming in these three new individuals who will bring valuable knowledge and expertise to our organization.”
The Little League International Advisory Board provides counsel and recommendations to the Little League Baseball and Softball staff and senior management. Each board member serves a four-year term, with representatives coming from Little League International’s nine regions. The 12-member board provides input, perspective, and opinion on current aspects of the Little League program and proposed new initiatives, as Little League International continues to improve its volunteer support and program offerings as the world’s largest youth sports organization.
Little League considers the input of the Advisory Board as vital in providing an effective program to ensure that all participants, parents, and volunteers have a rewarding and enriching Little League experience. Board members are typically District Administrators, or other volunteers whose many years of experience at local Little League programs.
Here are the three new members of the Little League International Advisory Board:
Chet Cooper
Central Region Field Director – Ohio District 2
A Little League volunteer for nearly 25 years, Chet Cooper has been a District Administrator for the past two years and has also served as an Assistant District Administrator for 12 years, manager for two years, coach for one year and a League President for a year. In addition, Mr. Cooper has been a volunteer umpire for 24 years and has attended two Little League International Congress events. Along with his Little League volunteer experience, Mr. Cooper also serves as the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative for Youngstown State University and was inducted into the Curbstone Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
Bob Sherrill
Southeast Region – Virginia District 7
Bob Sherrill has been involved with the Little League program for the past 16 years, five of which have been spent as a District Administrator as well as six years as an Assistant District Administrator. Along with his experience serving in a variety of volunteer roles at both the local league and district level, Mr. Sherrill also attended two Little League International Congress events. Outside of his Little League experience, Mr. Sherrill also retired from the United States Air Force in 2005 after 26 years of service and continues to serve as a civilian.
Jim Dean
Canada Region – Ontario District 2
A District Administrator for more than 13 years, Jim Dean has been involved with Little League for the past 23 years including four years as a coach and a year served as a manager. Throughout his volunteer service, Mr. Dean has attended two Little League International Congress events and has been involved in a variety of local league positions. Along with his Little League experience, Mr. Dean is also the Founder and Director of the National Capital Senior Baseball Association, the President of the National Capital Baseball League, and the Emperor of the Potato Cup Hockey League.