It’s often said that the best sports officials don’t draw attention to themselves; that a well-officiated contest is one where you don’t notice the officials.  But once a year we make them the center of attention anyway.

Tomorrow evening – for the 31st consecutive year – the Michigan High School Athletic Association will host its annual banquet for MHSAA sports officials at the Radisson Hotel Lansing.

High school game officials with 20, 30, 40, 45 and 50 years of service – yes, there are six who qualify for the 50-year service recognition – will be introduced.

Receiving the Vern L. Norris Award for extraordinary service to school sports officiating is John Juday, Sr. of Petoskey, one of the founders of the Top-O-Michigan Officials Association who has devoted his entire officiating life to youth and school sports.

Nearly 8,000 veteran officials have been recognized since the first banquet in 1980.  Mr. Juday becomes the 20th recipient of the Norris Award.

For more on school sports officiating, click here.