By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
Dowagiac's Tom Russom and Niles' Jim Murray will be among those honored by the Michigan High School Athletic Association at its annual Officials' Awards and Alumni Banquet.
This year the banquet will honor 330 individuals with 20 or more years of service.
The 26th annual banquet will be held at the Lansing Sheraton Hotel on Saturday, April 23 beginning at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available for $15 per person. Tickets, which are available to the public, will not be sold at the door.
Murray will be one of 37 officials who will be honored for 40-years of service to interscholastic sports. Russom will be one of 172 officials who will be honored for 20 years of service.
An additional 121 officials will be honored for 30 years of service.
The banquet will also feature the presentation of the Vern L. Norris Award.
This award, which is named for the former MHSAA executive director, will be presented to an official with 20 or more years of experience and who has been active in their local officials' association.
The recipient must have also mentored other officials and been involved in officials' education.
A brief multimedia presentation featuring highlights from 1965, 1975 and 1985 will be presented prior to the introduction of the award recepients.
For mor information or to purchace tickets, contact Faye Verellen at 517-332-5046.