75-year-old earns master rank, sixth degree

The Odessa Boy's & Girls Club Judo Team held a promotion ceremony for 75-year-old Oliver Batchelor Oct. 7.

Batchelor was promoted to sixth degree black belt, which is a master rank. Master Judo Ranks wear the coveted red and white belts.

Dale Lehman, seventh degree black belt, recommended Batchelor for promotion and the United States Judo Inc., approved the promotion at the U.S. Open Judo Championships last week. The promotion was a total surprise to Batchelor for he was not aware that Dale recommended him for promotion.

The OBC Judo Team now has four Master Rank Sensei's, Dale Lehman, Tommy Dyer (now with Fort Worth Judo Club), Mike McCleery and Batchelor.

Batchelor was born in Goldthwaite and raised in Kermit where he excelled at an all-state level in football, band and choir.

Earning a bachelor of science degree in geology at Texas Western (now UTEP) in El Paso, he worked in several jobs and towns until settling in Odessa in 1962 with the opening of the Rexall Chemical Refinery that later became Huntsman Chemical.

Oliver retired in 2002 as a reliability engineer for Huntsman with 40 years of service, having earned additional educational degrees along the way, including a bachelor's degree in engineering.

In addition, he served in the Army Reserves for many years receiving an honorable discharge in 1970 with the rank of major.

Through the years, Batchelor's passion for sports and volunteer service has been extraordinary. He worked as a football referee from 1964 to 1976, traveling all around West Texas to work high school games. His association with the Odessa Boys Club began in 1967 when he was first introduced to the sport of judo. Judo continues to this day to hold a significant place of service and sport in his life.

Batchelor received Shodan (first degree black belt) in 1970. He passed the certification for national referee in 1980 at the National High School Championships in Odessa.

He was selected to work as technical official at the 1990 Pan American Games in Indianapolis and at the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, Georgia.
Batchelor, as he is known around the club, has worked at the U.S. Invitational (international) for approximately 10 years at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and in Las Vegas.

He placed in two National Championships and six Texas state tournaments. He has held a number of key positions with Texas Judo Inc., including president for a number of terms, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Batchelor has been volunteering his time with the Odessa Boys Club for more than 41 years.