Ken and Barbie?
By Graydon Johns

        They are like two peas in a pod. She’s Raggedy Ann, he’s Andy. They are like Lucy and Desi. You cannot have one without the other, a lot like Barbie and Ken. Charlie and Barbara Smith go hand in hand. They have been together for almost 50 years and have known each other closer to 60 years. Charlie’s success in fast-pitch softball and with the International Softball Congress can be attributed to Barbara. Her dedication is as strong as Charlie’s when it comes to fast-pitch and his current positions as Commissioner for West Texas/ New Mexico, Southern Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer of the Carrol Forbes Foundation. If it was pouring rain, but the game continued Barbara would be in the stands, maybe by herself, cheering on her mate and the others on his team.

            Charlie and Barbara currently reside in El Paso, Texas where they have both lived their entire lives. As Charlie put it they are “two of the few natives” left. They met in junior high, “but nothing serious until after high school.” Charlie and Barbara raised three beautiful and wonderful daughters, which have brought them four cherished grand children. Their two dogs, Amy and Maggie, are all that remain at home.

            Charlie spent two years in college and worked for El Paso Natural Gas Company for over 31 years before retiring in 1985. Charlie found himself as a youngster playing a lot of sports, “I was playing some kind of ball” as Charlie put it. At the age of 14, Charlie signed up to play fast-pitch softball in a church league.

Charlie then advanced to the major leagues when he was 19 and played in the then NSC National Tournament, which was run by Carrol Forbes. He then turned to baseball where he played on the first team for the University of Texas-El Paso and starred for a semi-pro a team where he played for a few years. He was named to the All-Southwestern Semi-Pro Tournament Team twice and was later named to the El-Paso Baseball hall of fame in 1989.

In 1959 he resumed his softball career after a shoulder injury forced him to quit baseball. He joined up with Minute Market and was later picked up by Dautrich Jacks to go play in the 1959-60 World Tournament. He played for Dautrich for two more years during which time they won the World Tournament in 1961-62

            Charlie spent his entire fast-pitch career as a first baseman. His fast-pitch resume includes 12 World Tournament appearances, two championships, one second place finish and two fourth place finishes and a selection to the All-World team in 1962. He was also elected to the softball hall of fame in 1977. Later he was elected to the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame in 1983. Charlie, for all of his athletic success, has also been elected into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame.

            Now at the good old age of 69, Charlie spends his free time with his wife and doing task’s for the ISC. Charlie “would like to continue being affiliated with the ISC in some way so [he] can keep [his] finger in fast-pitch for the next few years.” The organization is proud to have Charlie as an integral part of its make-up and Barbara is too proud of her sweetheart.

            You never know you may be able to catch them back at their junior high school…behind the bleachers…oh wait, nothing serious until after high school.