Players

Tom Popowski
Seattle, Washington

Thomas Popowski graduated from Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf in West Trenton, New Jersey in 1985. He attended NTID in Rochester, NY; Tom was truly an avid and athletic person, but an intensely private person. He loved participating in any sporting events, it be lumberjack, bicycling, softball, basketball, or any sports that requires him to test his endurance and stamina.   For everyone involved, or knew him, he was remarkable athlete, and one of the most humble person. He was a teammate you wanted on your team.  All around player, pleasant, cooperative, and most of all, very intense teammate, he coached, and played hard for all teams he was on. He got his first start with Seattle softball in 1993.

He was a member of 1998 NWAAD Tacoma Championship Team. He was selected as 1^st Team All Star in 2001, 2002, and 2004 He was also 2nd Team All Star in 1997 and 2000. He had a lifetime batting average of .545 and a slugging 867.005 Percentage with 219 Plate appearances.

Tom passed away on January 30^th, 2008 to complication resulting from colon cancer.  Everyone who knew him will also say he is one of few rare players, who was a joy to watch, and one of most pleasant person to talk to.   He is survived by his deaf brother Ron Popowski in Atlantic City, NJ and deaf parents in Seattle, Washington,  He will always be missed by everyone who knew and love him as a player, teammate, and as a person.

Leader

Keith Drown
Twin Falls, Idaho

Keith Drown was born and raised in Twin Falls, Idaho. He went to Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind in Gooding, Idaho, graduated in 1972. He attended technical college in Twin Falls, learning what will be his tools for life. He worked as a mechanic at Burk’s Tractor for 21 years, and ongoing. He started playing sports for NWAAD in 1971 started to play basketball after graduating in high school. Although he played very little with Idaho during NWAAD years, with few opportunities which he would relish with happiness! Basically he was your favorite warm-bench teammate.  Throughout NWAAD years, he excelled in one area, leadership.   He coached several Idaho basketball teams and softball teams. He was elected 2001 Coach of the tournament in softball with Idaho.  He love teaching, and working with young people, imparting his knowledge of how to play the game the way it should be done. He was elected as Vice President of NWAAD in 2003, working along with Hall of Famer, Ron Nelson and Joan Drown. Then 2 years later he was elected as President of NWADB after organization was split into two organizations which continue to this day, NWADB and NWSAD. You all will know him, by his “Santa Claus-sized Belly” and hearty chuckle, along with his forever “hands in the pocket” while walking around tournament location.  He always takes his time, talking to all different walks of life, young and old.  Currently, his love of his life is his two grandchildren, who he dotes on every day, after coming home from work.