The Peru Gazette

County Recreation Director Nick Arnold presents “Thank You” Plaque to Rollie McGee

Terra Sisco, Clinton County Youth Bureau Supervisor congratulated Rollie

Rollie throws a beautiful strike just prior to the Beekmantown Pony League game.

By John T. Ryan

Beekmantown: Tuesday evening July 12th, before a Pony League game at the Beekmantown Recreation Park, the Clinton County Youth Bureau honored longtime Peru resident Roland “Rollie” McGee. Nick Arnold, Clinton County Recreation Director, presented a plaque to McGee. Arnold commented, “We wanted to thank Rollie for all his service to the county. He’s been coming to ball games for us for twenty-eight years, ensuring everything runs as it should. He doesn’t get paid a lot for doing it. But, he puts in a lot of time and effort. We just wanted to thank him and let him know his work doesn’t go unnoticed.”

McGee’s duties include ensuring the ball field is safe, watching the young umpires, teaching them if there’s something they don’t know, and making sure the coaches and fans are acting according to the rules. Arnold commented, “We don’t have fan problems when Rollie is here. He commands respect.”

A Peru native, Rollie McGee is a 1958 Peru High School graduate and a member of the Peru High School Sports Hall of Fame. A high school baseball star with a no-hitter to his credit, today he’s probably better known for his 50+ years as a baseball umpire. From 1993 until two years ago, McGee umpired Little League games throughout the region. Anyone who saw him in his uniform knew he took great pride in being an umpire. McGee explained, “I had three sets of uniforms. I sent them to the dry cleaners for cleaning and pressing. I also spit-polished my shoes. My philosophy was if you look and act like a professional, you are a professional.”

McGee learned spit-polishing in the U.S. Army, where he served for twenty-eight years, but still found time for umpiring. His special memories include umping international tournaments in Japan, Thailand, and Turkey. He recalled, “When the Army stationed me in Ankara, Turkey, I realized the kids on the nearby airbase didn’t have an organized league. So I helped the Air Force set up Little League.”

Roland “Rollie” McGee is worthy of recognition for his devotion to youth, baseball, following and teaching the game’s rules, and his professionalism.