Daily Press file photo Pictured is retiring Little League District Administrator Don Howes.

ESCANABA — Long-time Little League District Administrator Don Howes will officially retire August 31 after serving as Gladstone League president and Michigan U.P. District 10 administrator for the last 50 years. Howes — known as Mr. Baseball — is one of the longest-serving administrators statewide.

Howes begin his baseball career in 1971 when former District Administrator Karl Dickson of Escanaba met with Don at the Escanaba Daily Press where he was sports editor. That meeting was the beginning of the Gladstone Little League.

“The success of the program was good volunteer coaches and league personnel that took the time to coach basic fundamentals. The coaches became role models while making it fun for all,” commented Howes. “There were so many individuals that make the league the success that it was back when we first started the Gladstone program and throughout the years that followed.”

Once the boys’ program was up and running under Howes, the league baseball program became a power statewide — winning U.P. District titles and advancing to the Michigan state championship, winning state titles and midwest regionals runner-up.

There was no girls Little League when the Gladstone program started.

In 1980 Little League softball was born, and Gladstone was the only league in the U.P. for the first eight years, playing all of its tournament games downstate and becoming a statewide winner. Escanaba joined the softball program, and that helped to spread the program around the U.P.

“Thanks to Little League softball, high school softball in the U.P. was born,” commented Howes.

In 1991, the city of Gladstone honored the Howes family by naming the sports park field the Howes Family field as Don, Sherry, Da,n Dave and Laurie all helped in maintaining the field and complex to a high standard.

“The city was honored for bringing such a well-organized sport for all players and to the city where all-star team after team proudly represented Gladstone statewide. One fine example was teams would come up here for all of the tournaments in the area, buying land and moving into our area,” commented Howes.

Long-time assistant Renee Lundberg will step in as the new District 10 administrator. Lundberg brings years of experience to the program.

“I am proud that Renee has stepped up to the plate, and she will continue to make Little League a strong friendly program for all of the players, coaches and fans,” Howes said.