Former Travs executives inducted into HOF

Former Arkansas Travelers executives Frank H. “Bert” Parke and Carl Sawatski were inducted into the Texas League Hall of Fame recently.

Parke joined the Travelers board in the mid-1960s and was named a member of the executive committee, serving as a treasurer in the 1960s and 1970s He was named president of the team in 1980 and stayed in that position until 2010, when he was named president emeritus. During his involvement with the Travelers, he played a role in moving the team to the Texas League in 1966, helped hire Sawatski and Bill Valentine as general manager and helped generate support for repairs to Ray Winder Field. He was also the Travelers’ representative on the Texas League board of directors.

Sawatski was the Travelers general manager in 1968-1975 and was elected president of the Texas League in 1976. He stayed in that position until he died in 1991. As president of the Travelers, he was named Texas League Executive of the Year in 1970.