Byron Motley Quotations

(My dad) had a great time (umpiring). He lived through a lot. He lived through the woes of segregation, and there's not a drop of bitterness from him or the other men I've interviewed throughout the years.

He loved baseball. He wanted to play baseball, he just wasn't good enough. He wanted to stay involved in the game. Umpiring was where he found this.

Umpiring was more of a side job for my father. Matter of fact, most of the guys, they still had to work regular jobs when the season was over. They had to work as bartenders. Some were lucky enough to be coaches, some had to work in factories. They started to work other jobs to supplement their incomes.

I really honor my father and the other people throughout the times who paved the way, who were all pioneers without realizing what they were doing for future generations.