It was inevitable that the combination of a partial moniker like “Walter Johnson” and a birthplace named Marysville would lead the lad they called “Donnie” to the sport of baseball. He was an occasional pitcher, but he was best known as a superb catcher and slugger with performances proficient enough to merit a minor league professional contract from the Brooklyn Dodgers.He starred for the Marysville Junior Maroons and Senior Royals, -- and assisted both in winning four championships. A back injury eliminated any opportunity he had to make a career out of baseball.And so, in 1960, he turned to umpiring where he was quickly acknowledged as one of the best and fairest. He’s living proof of Joe McCarthy’s contention: “Give a boy a bat and ball and a place to play and you’ll have a good citizen”.To which we add: “and a Hall of Fame athlete!” Enrolled in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, June 2nd, 1990.