The world lost one of it’s great characters this week with the passing of Ralph “Ace” Harrison. Ralph, “Ace” as I called him, was an outstanding athlete and even a better coach, leading the Albemarle Patriot football team to three consecutive 10-0 seasons. He also coached golf and was a superior referee and umpire in his middle years. I first came to know him as an umpire.
I was just starting to ump a few high school baseball games, mostly lower level JV stuff. But one Saturday I got a call saying that Woodberry Forest needed a couple umps, last minute substitutes. I was a little hesitant because Woodberry Forest played at a higher level than I had been calling, but I would be paired with “Ace” Harrison. I enjoyed our ride up to Woodberry as Ace kept me entertained with non-stop tales. He was never at a loss for stories. The game went uneventfully, which is the goal of every umpire. Ace called from behind the plate and I admired his precise consistency – perfect calls every time. He was also jovial with the players and made the game a fun experience for everyone.
What I most remember most, though, was that before the game, Ace put on wool underwear, top and bottom, and it was pushing 95 degrees.
I was afraid he would die of a heat stroke and I’d have to call the whole game by himself, but he said he used the wool to keep him cool. The sweat was quickly absorbed by the wool undergarments, working as a natural AC system. He didn’t die, fortunately, we had a good time and struck up a lasting friendship. Later, I would open a sporting goods shop and one of my regular customers was Ace Harrison. Ace was a bigtime smallmouth fisherman and his favorite bait was a madtom – a small catfish. Each time he came in the shop, he told me how good madtoms were and even where to go to seine a few. Those were trade secrets, not generally shared.
Ace was always cheerful, always had a kind word and he never ran out of stories. He loved people, he loved life and he lived life to the fullest.
I know his family will miss him dearly and I will too. What a genuinely nice man.