Remembering the summer santa

On Wednesday, the Warner Robins American Little League (WRALL) announced that longtime member, Roger Armstrong, passed away.

This followed WRALL’s announcement on Tuesday, notifying participants an individual associated with the league was diagnosed with COVID-19 (coronavirus).

“Roger meant so much to so many and left an amazing impact on our program,” WRALL wrote in a Facebook post honoring Armstrong. “Thoughts and blessings go to his family at this difficult time.”

Armstrong has been associated with WRALL since the 1980s, wearing different hats during his time there. Armstrong was a league president, coach, and as years progressed, he became what many will remember him as, the umpire.

Not just any umpire, Armstrong had a memorable niche around the diamond.

“His wife evidently wasn’t much into sports, so he had this as a past time,” said longtime friend of Armstrong and WRALL umpire, Buster Hickam. “This was his alter ego if you would. He looks like Santa Claus, I mean really, a big white beard with a (umpire) mask on. The kids would refer to him as a Summer Santa Claus. Just a huge bear of a man, never had a coarse word with a coach; he just let everything go down his backside. You know, people would yell at him, whatever, and it just didn’t faze him.”

While working as an ump, the Summer Santa went beyond his officiating duties. Armstrong shared his knowledge of the game with the players, enjoying every moment mentoring the kids.

“From coach pitch to tee ball, from where a pitcher is just learning to pitch, a runner is just learning where to run, which direction to run, how to slide and not to slide, those kinds of things; (see) we’re umpires; umpires officiate a game,” said Hickam. “He would take it another step and umpire-coach; so, while a kid is standing on second base, you’d find Roger talking to them or giving the runner a little insight… (He’s) not just an old man on the field, but somebody you look up to or mentor on the field.”

Armstrong meant so much to the game, and the game meant equally as much to him.

Known for being one of the first to the field and staying until the final ballgame, Armstrong left a legacy as someone that gave back to the game. No matter the competition, if it meant he was standing behind the plate umpiring, Armstrong would be there. Even if he were just volunteering, he wouldn’t hesitate to do it for the community.

As a longtime member, the lives Armstrong touched, just through WRALL, go back decades.

“Most of the coaches out at little league came through the little league as a player, and Roger was there during that time as well,” said Hickam. “So, you would find a parent or coach, or even like the mayor, remembering Roger back in the 80s, back in the 90s as a coach or an umpire or the president of the national league back then.”

After this unexpected loss shook the entire league, there’s no telling how much he’ll be missed, but one thing is for sure; Roger Armstrong left his mark on the community that will be remembered by many.

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