Longtime Minnesota Official Recalls Adversity Faced as Youth

Longtime official Mark Doble was removing his umpiring equipment after working the plate during a Minnesota State High School League Softball State Tournament game in early June when a visitor approached.

Doble recognized him immediately and greeted him warmly. The visitor congratulated Doble on his game performance and said he’d love to catch up with him if he had a minute. While they weren’t classmates, both had attended Minneapolis Roosevelt High School. The visitor was in the Class of 1982 and Doble graduated four years later.

“I’d love to visit, but I need to meet with my game evaluator first,” Doble said. “Can we catch up afterward?”

The visitor had a deep understanding of the officiating world and knew the importance of the postgame review. As he waited at a nearby picnic table, the visitor passed the time visiting with other longtime officials he’d worked with over the years in other sports.

When Doble sat down at the table on a sunny but windy day in this southwestern Minnesota town, the memory-sharing of their high school experiences began in earnest. The visitor ran cross country, played basketball and was a distance runner on the track and field team. Doble played football, wrestled and was also on the track and field team.

While their crossover sport was limited to track and field in the spring, the conversation flowed with fun anecdotes and storytelling. It also included a moment of seriousness. Doble openly acknowledges that he didn’t have what many would call an athletic- type physical make-up.

“I was short and wide,” he said with a chuckle. “I still am.”

It made him an easy target for teasing and bullying. The memories of witnessing those negative actions came flooding back to the visitor. While the visitor didn’t participate in the teasing and bullying, as a student leader, he also didn’t step forward to putting a stop to it in support of a teammate.

“I am so sorry that you were treated that way,” the visitor shared with Doble. “I’m also disappointed in myself for not doing more to stop it. I could have been a much stronger leader on your behalf.”

For an elongated moment, Doble didn’t reply. The only sounds were from nearby softball fields as play continued. He finally broke the silence with an emotion-filled reply.

“Thank you for acknowledging that; you are the first person to ever do so,” he said. “Back then, I just took (the teasing and bullying). I was looking to be accepted and to fit in. I thought that was part of the deal.

“AlI I wanted was to be like all of you guys. You guys had the nice shoes and clothes. You were excellent athletes and students, popular and the girls liked you.”

As is often the case, there is more to an individual’s story than what we see on the surface. Doble shared a narrative of his upbringing, information that the visitor was just now learning. As he listened with empathy, the visitor realized he could have done a great deal more as a student leader, one that could have become a mentor to Doble as he navigated his early high school years.

Doble was raised in a single-parent household in south Minneapolis, not far from where the visitor grew up. The visitor was stunned that he lived that close. His household received government assistance and resources were limited.

“I didn’t always have the greatest things, but we survived,” he said. “It was a hard life. We did receive help from others in the neighborhood or community whether it was used sporting equipment or rides to practice. People in our community helped make things better. That is what community is all about.”

Four decades later, the affable Doble has simple advice for others based on his real-life experiences:

“Don’t judge people by how they look or what they don’t have,” he said affirmatively.

Doble has found his path of acceptance and respect through officiating.

He just completed his 28th season of collegiate and high school softball. He also officiates football and wrestling. He has also spent time as a coach in those sports. His journey through officiating began as a slow-pitch umpire in the City of Minneapolis Park Board and has morphed into weeks-long stays in Florida each March to work collegiate and high school fastpitch contests.

“If I’m not having fun anymore, that’s when I know that I need to step away from officiating,” Doble said. “I’m not there yet. I’m still having a great time. As an official, sure, things can get tough. But I’ve lived through adversity and know that I can turn a negative into a positive.”

He took a short break from officiating while serving in the military, and following the completion of his service, he answered the call to continue.

“Being in the military, I know about high expectations, discipline and commitment,” he said. “I also know how important it is to give back through leadership. I am respected in the officiating world. That is a really good feeling to know that you are recognized for your work and efforts at making the games a great place to be. For me, this is my way of giving back. I want to do all I can to help others have great officiating experiences.”

As the long visit drew to a close, the visitor marveled at Doble’s journey, from his courage through adversity as a youth to the national respect he has garnered through officiating.

“I’ve had a great life,” Doble said. “I’ve got plenty of reasons to smile.”

Tim Leighton is communications coordinator for the Minnesota State High School League and a member of the High School Today Publications Committee. He can be reached at tleighton@mshsl.org.