EAST LANSING – One of the founders of the Top-O-Michigan Officials Association, John Juday Sr. of Petoskey has been selected to receive the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Vern L. Norris Award for 2010.

The Norris Award is presented annually to a veteran official who has been active in a local officials association, has mentored other officials and has been involved in officials’ education. It is named for Vern L. Norris, who was executive director of the MHSAA from 1978-86, and well-respected by officials on the state and national levels. Juday will be presented the award at the MHSAA’s 31st annual Officials’ Awards and Alumni Banquet on May 1 at the Radisson Hotel Lansing, which begins at 7 p.m.

Leadership is a trait that endures over time, and the leadership Juday has shown as an official in northern Michigan has been exemplary. He continues to be active with Top-O-Michigan Officials Association activities, clinics and member services even after retiring from officiating in 2001, ending a career of 34 years of service in football, basketball and baseball.

Juday worked at the highest levels of MHSAA tournaments on the gridiron and on the hardwood, but also gave the highest levels of service as a sponsor of high-school aged officials through the MHSAA’s Legacy program, and as a mentor to countless other young officials.

His officiating work also involved on the field and consulting work with local Little Leagues and recreation departments. Juday is also active in the Petoskey-based Beyond The Scoreboard organization, which promotes character in athletics.

A 1957 Boyne City High School graduate, Juday was a two-way performer on the gridiron where he helped the Ramblers to 14-1 gridiron record his junior and senior seasons, including quarterbacking the Ramblers to an 8-0 mark in 1956 and their first Northern Michigan C crown in 12 years. He also averaged in double figures in basketball as the school won an MHSAA Class C Regional title in 1956.

“When you think about some of the great officials between the lines who have also been great leaders outside the lines, John Juday is one such official,” said John E. “Jack” Roberts, executive director of the MHSAA.  “He helped lead the creation of one of the top officials associations in the state, and he continues to give and lead even beyond his retirement from active officiating as a teacher and a mentor.  We’re pleased to honor John Juday with the Norris Award.”

High school game officials with 20, 30, 40, 45 and 50-years of service will also be honored at the Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet on May 1 at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing.

Six officials with 50 or more years of service will be honored, along with 14 officials with 45 years. A 40-year award will be presented to 43 officials. In addition, 104 officials with 30 years, and 189 officials with 20 years, of experience, will be honored.  With the induction of this year’s group of 356, the honor roll of officials who have aided young student-athletes grows to 7,924 since the inception of the banquet in 1980.

Tickets for the banquet are available to the public and are priced at $20. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Tickets can be ordered online from the Official’s page of the MHSAA Website, MHSAA.com.