Matthew J. Himlin

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Matt graduated from St. Nicholas High School in 1960 where he played basketball. At Wilkes College, he was a varsity walk on outfielder. He earned four letters and was co-captain and voted senior MVP. He played 10 years of Semi-pro sandlot baseball in the Wyoming and Central Leagues. He was awarded the Central League Sportsmanship Award in 1965 and made three Central League All-Star teams. He started for Ashley, Sheatown, and Mountain Top teams, winning league and playoff titles throughout the 60s and 70s. He played local slow/fast pitch softball for over 20 years. He was a member of the 1976 PA Class A State Slow Pitch Championship team. Matt was a director/organizer/official of Mountain Top Area’s Adult Basketball League. Matt was an active PIAA basketball official and IAABO college official for 22 years, working district championships, 20 interdistrict state playoff games, and a state championship game in 1984. He officiated King’s College vs. the Czechoslovakian Olympic Team on its tour of U.S. prior to 1976 Olympics. He was active as an ASA softball umpire 26 years; serving as district umpire in chief, chapter rules interpreter, and executive board member for 20 years. He umpired 18 State and two Regional Championship tourneys, four ASA National Championship tourneys, including the Interservice World Series. He was inducted into the National ASA lndicator Fraternity in the Softball Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City 1993. Matt also was a NCAA softball fast pitch umpire for 20 years. A longtime resident of Plains, Matt passed away in January of 2025 at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife Ellyn and sons Matthew T. and Daniel D. and their respective families.