E.T. Colvin
Elton Thomas Colvin, Jr., “ET” to friends and family for over 70 years, was born in Columbus, MS, on December 17, 1948 to Elton and Annie Will Colvin. His grandparents were N.B. and Pearl Elizabeth Wright, and Archie and Sally Colvin.
After graduating from S.D. Lee High School in 1966, E.T. attended the University of Alabama, where he earned three letters as pitcher on a baseball scholarship. He also met his future wife before being drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in Okinawa, Japan, until his father’s death. Only three years after his return to the U.S., his mother passed leaving Linda and himself to help raise his two younger sisters. In 1974 ET and T Trucking was established and still operates today.
E.T. loved the game of softball. During his 18 year career, he played on a major level and in four ASA National Championships. In 1990 he became the State Commissioner of Mississippi ASA Softball and served in that position until retiring in November 2021. E.T. served on National and International positions. On the National Level, he served as a Regional Director, Regional Vice President, and had the honor of being elected USA Softball National President. E.T. was one of only three men to ever hold this position twice. For 21 years he served on the National Board of Directors for USA Softball and was inducted into the USA Softball National Hall of Fame 2010. E.T. not only promoted the sport of softball by traveling to 41 states but also internationally to 13 countries. On the International Level, he served as North American Vice President of the Pan American Softball Confederation and sat on the Board of Directors for the International Federation for 7 years as the North American Vice-President.
Family was the most important part of E.T.’s life. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 52 years, Linda; a son Erik Todd Colvin; a daughter Monica Lynn Woolbright; his grandchildren, whom he called “my guardian angels”: Ethan Tanner Colvin, Macy Dean Colvin, Jayme Lee Woolbright, Kaydi Lynn and Corey Boone; a great grandson Scott Thomas Boone and a great grand daughter Kendell Faye Selvie. E.T. also leaves his sisters Linda Duncan (Larry) and Sarah Davidson Griffin. He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sister Annie Pearl Wozniak, brother-in-law James Griffin, and son-in-law Thomas Stuart Woolbright.
Colvin’s contributions to USA Softball were instrumental. He first became involved in the sport as a Slow Player at the Major level before beginning his tenure as Commissioner for USA Softball of Mississippi in 1992 – a position he held until his retirement earlier this year.
In addition to his involvement in the sport at a local level, Colvin served as President of USA Softball for two terms while also being a part of the Board of Directors for over 20 years. Additionally, Colvin represented the United States at the International level as the North American Vice-President for the International Softball Federation (ISF). Colvin’s dedication to the game was later recognized as he was inducted to the National Softball Hall of Fame as a Commissioner in 2010. Survived by his wife, Linda Colvin, and other family members, Colvin’s legacy at USA Softball is one that will far extend beyond his years.
