Billy J. (“B.J.”) Bryant’s career as an ump began in 1972, when he joined the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) as a registered slow-pitch umpire. He began calling games in the central NC area such as Wake, Harnett, Johnston, and Franklin counties, calling as many as 250 games a year. In 1980, he also began working fast-pitch and modified games. He attended National Umpire School in Tidewater, VA (1987), in Raleigh, (1993), and in Oklahoma City, OK, the home base of ASA. He is currently serving back-to-back terms as President of the North Carolina ASA for 2008-2009 and 2010-2011.

He was bom in Harnett County in 1940 and attended La Fayette High School, where he graduated in 1960. After graduation, he was married and also served in the US Army from 1960-1963. He worked in textile plants for 10 years after his discharge, and later owned his own business moving and setting up mobile homes. He has three grown children, Kristi, Ben, and Robin. He currently owns and manages a mobile home park and works for the City of Raleigh as Umpire in Chief (UIC) for Parks and Recreation. Bryant has served as an umpire or as the UIC at 30-35 state tournaments and several southeastern US regional tournaments. He has worked in national tournaments from the Major Coed to Major Church, Men‘s Divisions A, B, and C, Men‘s 45 and over. Women‘s Class B, and Youth 16 and under Slow-pitch all over the southeastern United States. He has also worked in the Easter Seals Tournaments, NC Special Olympic Tournaments, and in the Special Olympics World Summer Games (held in Raleigh in 1999). In addition to serving as an umpire, Bryant also organized, directed, and was the UIC of two Hall of Fame Tournaments in Raleigh, NC. The proceeds of this tournament benefited the North Carolina Softball Hall of Fame located in Burlington, NC. Bryant was inducted in this Hall of Fame in 2001 for his accomplishments and service to North Carolina softball. He is also a member of the Walnut Creek Softball Hall of Fame (inducted in 2003).

Bryant has been a member and leader in Capital City Umpires, Inc., a local umpire association in Raleigh. He has served as President, Vice President, or UIC since 1987. He also is a clinician in the Raleigh area, training many umpires, many of whom have been invited to state or national tournaments. In 1990, he was appointed UIC of District 18 of the NCASA (now known as District 15). He has been the Sandhills UIC (a section of the N.C. ASA) since 1997.

Bryant’s 38-year career in Umpiring has been a testament to his love for the game and his dedication to the rules and fairness of the game. He has been a model of consistency and professionalism to the players and the other umpires which he has served with and taught over the years.