Warren Bumpus from the Syracuse chapter has been chosen from the pool of applicants as the winner of the 2015 Tony DeVivo Umpire of the Year Award.
Warren has been a member in good standing with the Syracuse Chapter of the NYS Baseball Umpires Association for four decades. As a member Warren has been in good standing at the State level and contributed to educational clinics at the state level and oversaw the state website.
Warren has set the standard for the Syracuse Chapter when it comes to professionalism, rules and observing all state rules and regulations. Even though Warren has been forced off the field he continues to observe 10 to 12 umpires weekly to insure that the Syracuse Chapter umpires officials are in compliance with the chapter's dress code, use of proper rules and mechanics, and that umpires are keeping up a good work ethic.
There is no umpire in Central New York or perhaps the State that has more respect from his fellow umpires, coaches, players or school administration. The Bumpus name is synonymous with professionalism, integrity, and class in the Syracuse Area. His reputation with the schools and Section III is of cooperation, honesty, and dependability.
Warren has served as the Membership Chairman in Syracuse and continues to be the lead instructor for all new and active members of the Syracuse Chapter. For many years, Warren would present a three man mechanics class prior to the State tournament for umpires selected to work the state championships. He continues to serve as the Section III baseball representative for the Syracuse, Watertown and Utica umpiring boards.
Warren has umpired over 150+ sectional games and regional games in his career. He has been selected to represent the Syracuse Chapter the State tournament twice. His game counts could even be higher if he hadn’t selflessly passed on numerous additional assignments to make sure other deserving umpires received an opportunity to umpire at the sectional, regional and state level.
Warren has held an Executive Committee Position for over 20 years. He has been the Syracuse chapter's President, Vice President, Membership Chairman and Interpreter. He always serves as the Section III Baseball representative and has been selected by his peers to serve of the negotiating committee for the last two Section III sports officials contracts.
Warren is a retired high school math teacher that has been recognized for his leadership in the classroom and has touched the lives of thousands of students in Central New York. He co-developed the Tony DeVivo Scholarship Fund that Awards four scholarships to High School Baseball Seniors annually. To date the Syracuse Chapter has awarded over $10,000 dollars in scholarship money. Warren has helped develop a partnership with the Syracuse ALS Association and the Syracuse Chapter donates its umpiring services during the annual “Strike Out ALS” baseball tournament.
Warren is also a highly respected umpire at the national level. He has worked at the NCJAA, ECAC Division III, Divison II and Division I level. He has been chosen to work several NJCAA, ECAC and Division I post season assignments. A one point in his career Warren would regularly be selected to work one of the 16 NCAA Division I regional’s. Warren has also been selected and worked in numerous Babe Ruth World Series.
Warren is the standard of what we all should strive to be on and off the field. This is a humble man that loves baseball and people more than any 10 of us combined. In a meeting with Tony’s daughter several years ago she described her father in very similar terms.
Congratulations Warren on your award.