Contact: John Johnson or Geoff Kimmerly
517.332.5046 or [email protected]
EAST LANSING, Mich. – April 9 – Okemos’ Tom Minter, an official for nine MHSAA Finals and longtime clinician and trainer of referees and umpires all over the state, has been selected to receive the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Vern L. Norris Award for 2013.
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 served as executive director of the MHSAA from 1978-86 and was well-respected by officials on the state and national levels.
Minter will be honored at the Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet on May 4 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. He is in his 48th year as an MHSAA-registered official and has worked games in football, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer and baseball. He also served on the MHSAA staff as assistant to executive director John E. “Jack” Roberts from September 1995 until retiring at the end of January 2012.
While the desire to remain part of the games after his playing career ended led to Minter’s early involvement, the opportunity to pass on what he’s learned keeps him immersed in the officiating community. He continues to work soccer, football and basketball games, while also providing mentorship at clinics all over the state.
“Hopefully now I’m able to pass some of this on and to encourage, provide the listening ear like people provided to me in the past,” Minter said. “It’s created in me a sense of legacy.
“To be in the company of people like Vern Norris and Dick Kalahar and all the other winners, it’s just the recognition that you’ve made a contribution. That is so satisfying.”
Minter began his officiating career while a student at a U.S. Air Force base high school overseas. A native of Akron, Ohio, he moved with his family to Scotland in 1958 and refereed his first high school soccer game in 1961. After also officiating for a year in Ohio, Minter began officiating in Michigan while a student at Jackson Community College. He graduated from Jackson Community College in 1966 and Michigan State University in 1971, and also served a stint with the U.S. Army.
Minter continues to work football, basketball and soccer games and has served as an officials assignor both at the high school and college levels; he currently is secretary for the Greater Lansing Area Soccer Officials Association. He worked five baseball MHSAA Finals, two football and one each in boys and girls soccer before joining the MHSAA staff in 1995.
Among many contributions as an MHSAA employee, Minter was assistant director in charge of boys and girls soccer and oversaw construction of the MHSAA’s home office, which opened in December 1996. Although retired, he remains a versatile contributor providing assistance to the MHSAA in East Lansing and high school athletics on a national level.
“Tom Minter continues to help with capital improvement projects at the MHSAA office, and he continues to represent the National Federation (NFHS) Officials Association on its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee,” Roberts said. “His many contributions to high school athletics, and especially officiating, continue to be far-reaching. We are delighted to recognize Tom Minter with the Vern L. Norris Award.”
Minter came to the MHSAA after serving as Meridian Township Treasurer for 19 years and also as a volunteer fireman for that community, which includes Haslett and Okemos. Minter was an Ingham County commissioner for six years and served on Meridian Township’s planning commission and zoning board of appeals, and has been a member of the Haslett/Okemos Rotary Club for 36 years – including as its president in 1985-86.
He currently serves as chairperson of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, a 15-member body established in 1992 that promotes the increase of physical activity and improvement of health for Michigan residents. He was first appointed in February 2012.
Minter also continues to work as a Big Ten football replay official and observer of officials for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – for which he served as an on-field official for 25 seasons including eight as crew chief. He also worked in the Mid-American Conference and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Previous recipients of the Norris Award are:
1992 – Ted Wilson, East Detroit
1993 – Fred Briggs, Burton
1994 – Joe Brodie, Flat Rock
1995 – Jim Massar, Flint
1996 – Jim Lamoreaux, St. Ignace
1997 – Ken Myllyla, Escanaba
1998 – Blake Hagman, Kalamazoo
1999 – Richard Kalahar, Jackson
2000 – Barb Beckett, Traverse City; Karl Newingham, Bay City
2001 – Herb Lipschultz, Kalamazoo
2002 – Robert Scholie, Hancock
2003 – Ron Nagy, Hazel Park
2004 – Carl Van Heck, Grand Rapids
2005 – Bruce Moss, Alma
2006 – Jeanne Skinner, Grand Rapids
2007 – Terry Wakeley, Grayling
2008 – Will Lynch, Honor
2009 – James Danhoff, Richland
2010 – John Juday Sr., Petoskey
2011 – Robert Williams, Redford
2012 – Lyle Berry, Rockford
High school game officials with 20, 30, 40, 45 and 50 years of service also will be honored at the Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet on May 4.
Six officials with 50 or more years of service will be honored, along with 24 officials with 45 years. A 40-year award will be presented to 62 officials. In addition, 97 officials with 30 years and 208 officials with 20 years of experience will be honored. With the induction of this year’s group of 397, the honor roll of officials who have aided young student-athletes grows to 9,045 since the inception of the banquet in 1980.
Tickets for the banquet are available to the public and priced at $20. They will not be sold at the door. Tickets can be ordered by calling the MHSAA office at (517) 332-5046 or by sending the order form available at this link: http://www.mhsaa.com/portals/0/documents/officials/offbanq.pdf
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,600 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract approximately 1.6 million spectators each year.
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MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
20, 30, 40, 45 & 50-YEAR OFFICIALS
The officials on this list will receive their 20, 30, 40, 45 or 50-year service awards at the 34th annual Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing on May 4.
20 YEAR OFFICIALS
Adrian - Gregg Wonderly
Alanson - James Young
Allen Park - Mark Klein
Allen Park - Juan Molina Jr.
Allendale - Matthew Carlson
Alpena - Robert Centala Jr.
Alpena - Jeffrey Trelfa
Armada - John King
Au Gres - David Wolthuis
Bad Axe - Brent Wehner
Battle Creek - Michael Granger
Battle Creek - Robert Ward
Bay City - Craig Gard
Bay City - Stephen Linton
Bay City - Scott Packard
Bay City - Joseph Pietryga
Bessemer - James Trcka
Bridgman - James Stine Jr.
Brooklyn - Greg Meschke
Caledonia - Bene Benedict
Caledonia - Stacy Smith
Caledonia - Walter Van Wyngarden
Canton - Amanda Pelukas
Canton - Michael Rossman
Center Line - Scott Manteuffel
Charlotte - Val Nelson
Chelsea - Eric VanHevel
Chesterfield - Anthony Mancina
Clinton - Robert Kelly Jr
Clinton Township - Scott Walendowski
Comstock Park - Kathy Felty
Concord - Scott Pelham
Cornell - Joanne Chouinard
Crystal Falls - Lori Anderson
Davison - James Edgar
Davison - Nelson Kirkland
Dearborn - Gloria Joseph
Dearborn Heights - Dennis Lesmeister
Detroit - Bedford Hurst
Detroit - Joyce Smith
East Jordan - Audrey Nelson
East Lansing - John Lennemann
East Lansing - Brent Sorg
Eastpointe - Kendal Smith
Ecorse - James Smith
Escanaba - Karin Flynn
Farmington Hills - Robert Dobson Jr.
Fenton - Richard Higgins
Fenton - Paul White
Ferndale - George Markley
Flat Rock - Janis Stahr
Flint - Robert Peek
Flint - Leonard Sparks Sr
Flint - John Yelle
Flushing - Jeffrey Straley
Fort Gratiot - Douglas Hendershot
Frankfort - Andrew Micham
Gowen - Gary Jensen
Grand Blanc - Paul Bujalski
Grand Blanc - Bernadette Koenig
Grand Blanc - Paul Ranville
Grand Rapids - Jacquie DeJonge
Grand Rapids - David Garwood Jr.
Grand Rapids - Jeff Green
Grand Rapids - Michael Kopinski
Granger - Joan Nowak
Grant - Theodore Horning
Greenville - Darcia Kelley
Grosse Pointe - Ryan Murphy
Grosse Pointe Woods - Renee Dicristofaro
Hartford - Ben Chambers
Hazel Park - Benny Holzman
Hickory Corners - Dean Bostwick
Holland - Lynette Dooley
Holt - John Massey
Howell - Michael Brown Jr.
Howell - Daniel Jeffery Sr
Howell - Kim Kaye
Hudsonville - John Crumb
Hudsonville - Marene Van Farowe
Imlay City - John Forti
Indian River - Mark Holland
Ionia - Clifford Graham
Jackson - David Hein
Jackson - Shelby Tomaw
Jenison - Donald Nyenhuis
Kalamazoo - Paul Edington
Kalamazoo - Judi Holland
Kalamazoo - Julie Jones
Kincheloe - Robert Norton
Kingsford - Jack Wallis
Lansing - Dee Hammond
Lansing - Brian Jacobs
Lansing - Kevin Konen
Lansing - Robert Mccullem
Lansing - Thomas Pier
Lexington - Perry Sutherland
Linden - James DeVoe
Linden - Patrick Martin
Linden - Donald Wohlford
Livonia - Charles Sorentino Jr.
Livonia - Steve Timm
Mackinac Island - Anneke Myers
Macomb - Sean Barel
Macomb - Barbara Laird
Macomb - Patrick Walsh
Manchester - James Connors
Manistee - Aaron Wemple
Marinette - Neil Motto
Marinette - Keith Plude
Marion - Marc Taylor
Mason - Daniel Carmichael
Mason - Alan Olson
Mason - Kathy Showers
Mattawan - John Visser
Midland - Katherine Duso
Midland - Terry Schmidt
Midland - David Shane
Milford - Derrick Mroz
Millersburg - Joseph Brewbaker
Mio - Michael Kann
Monroe - Carolyn Peters
Montague - Stanley Bush
Montgomery - Kent Sanborn
Mt. Pleasant - Patricia Jaksa
Munising - Anthony Immel
Muskegon - Jacklyn Burr
Muskegon - Chris Calkins
Muskegon - Dennis Danicek
Muskegon - Randall Peters
Muskegon - Peter Shireman
Muskegon - Edward Wilder
New Boston - Thomas Carollo
New Hudson - Leonard Brockhahn
Newaygo - Stanley Thomas
Niles - Scott Stewart
North Muskegon - Tony Kartes
Northville - Aaron Gniewek
Norway - Brad Grayvold
Novi - Tina Miller
Ontonagon - Andrew Borseth
Ontonagon - Tim Marczak
Owosso - Gary Kanan
Parma - Linda Scholl
Paw Paw - Karla Koviak
Perry - Thomas Montpas
Pierson - Joseph Williams
Pleasant Lake - Marty Shean
Plymouth - Richard Schmidt
Portland - Bobbe Johnson
Quincy - Candace Cox
Rapid River - Mike Pilon
Ray - Thomas Caponi
Ray - Dan Hill Sr
Rochester Hills - Katherine DiMeglio
Rochester Hills - Janette Luttenberger
Rochester Hills - Robert Szmania
Rockford - Kent Graves
Romeo - Mary Milke
Rossford - Steven Agler
Saginaw - Thomas Nichols
Saline - Todd Schultz
Shelby - Todd Fox
Shelby Township - Michael Ampola
Shelby Township - James Boggio
Shelby Township - Sheila Brownlee
Shelby Township - Kristi Dean
South Bend - James Arnett
South Lyon - Michael Lieding
Southfield - Dianne Elliott
Sparta - Ryan Huber
Spring Lake - Chris Falak
St Clair Shores - Gary Kowalewski
St Clair Shores - Thomas Waelchli
St Joseph - Terry Myers
Standish - Kimberly Belchak
Stanton - Jason Petersen
Sterling Heights - John Agbay
Sterling Heights - Pietro Loria
Sterling Heights - John Moceri
Stevensville - Wesley Collins
Stevensville - John Phelan
Swartz Creek - Richard Murphy
Taylor - Debra Keen
Taylor - Joseph Taylor III
Toledo - Stanley Davis
Toledo - Douglas Sanders
Traverse City - Allen Hebden
Trenton - Michael Kiselis
Unionville - Lynn Ewald
Walled Lake - Donald Magee
Warren - Jerry Badia
Warren - Joseph Di Bucci
Warren - Joel Maljak
Washington - Gloria Berger
Wayland - Mark Kampen
Wayne - Robert Allen II
West Bloomfield - James Dworman
West Bloomfield - Cynthia Tyzo
White Lake - Jack Butler
Williamsburg - David Lemmien
Williamston - Marilyn Bowker
Williamston - David Sweeney
Wolverine - David Ashenfelter
Wyandotte - David Shalda
Wyandotte - Robert Szczechowski
Wyoming - Stephen Hendrickson
Wyoming - Mark Steenbergen
30 YEAR OFFICIALS
Adrian - Doris Goodlock
Battle Creek - Corby O'Leary
Bay City - Tony Biskup
Brooklyn - Steven Reese
Brown City - David Hines
Brownstown Township - Fred Howard
Buchanan - Ronald Bartz
Caledonia - Clinton Abbott
Caro - Frederick Galsterer
Carson City - Thomas Walker
Cedar Springs - Dan Rypma
Charlevoix - Daniel Ulrich
Clark Lake - Ralph Piepkow Jr.
Clinton Township - Patrick Crandall
Detroit - Aimee Davis
Detroit - Edward Jackson
Detroit - John Leidlein Jr.
Detroit - Richard Shalhoub
DeWitt - Thomas Barker
Eastpointe - Paul Kolbe
Edwardsburg - Gerald Wright
Fort Gratiot - Jeff Klausing
Freeland - Richard Welzein
Garden City - Eric Hebestreit
Gaylord - Robert Graczyk
Gladstone - Thomas Vanlerberghe Sr.
Grand Rapids - William Recker
Grass Lake - Gary Childs
Hancock - Brian Rimpela
Haslett - Ken Ouellette
Hazel Park - Michael Sunquest
Holland - Brent Hoitenga
Holt - Jamie Evans
Hudsonville - Gerald Kuiper
Jackson - Thomas Morrissey
Jenison - Romelio Dieppa
Jonesville - Kirk Snyder
Kalamazoo - Rodger Henry
Kentwood - William Meade
La Salle - Michael Bitz
Lake Orion - James Weidman
Lansing - John Hersman Jr.
Lansing - Daniel Kitchel
Lansing - Terrance Walters
Lapeer - Scott Strickler
Linden - Gene Essenmacher
Marlette - Gilbert Thompson
Marysville - Thomas Martin
Mason - Craig Allen
Mason - Larry Wight
Mayville - Gary Libka
McBain - Jerry Taylor
Midland - Bradley Crampton
National City - Paul Becker
Negaunee - Helen Grossman
New Port Richey - Charles Cordero
Niles - Charles Poynter
Novi - Thomas Beyersdorf
Oscoda - Donald Ward
Oxford - Randy Cook
Plainwell - Lurinda Shrauger
Reed City - David Erler
Republic - Paul Price
Rockford - Carl Knoop
Rogers City - Karl Grambau
Roseville - Mario Soresi
Royal Oak - Richard Stoll
Royal Oak - Elaine Torvinen
Ruth - Daniel Romzek
Saginaw - Michael Mayers
Saginaw - Dennis Wildey
Sand Creek - Jack Sager
Saranac - Christopher Coulson
Sault Ste Marie - Dale Cryderman
Shelby Township - Skipper Mukhtar
South Bend - Thomas Bolinger
St Clair Shores - Gerald Garcia
St Clair Shores - Wayne Rockensuess
St Joseph - James Mandarino Jr.
St Joseph - Bruce Molineaux
Sterling Heights - Marie Smith
Swartz Creek - James Loria
Tecumseh - Gregory Corley
Toledo - Oscar Hill
Traverse City - Barbara Beckett
Traverse City - Perry Johnson
Traverse City - Joe LeMieux
Troy - William Gerbe
Walled Lake - Nicholas Lesnau
Warren - Michael Smith
Waterford - Dennis Hill
Waters - Rick Sehl
West Bloomfield - Dennis Scarpace
Westland - Marion Coombs
White Lake - Paul Safran
Woodhaven - Steven Vecchioni
Ypsilanti - Jerry Kelley
40 YEAR OFFICIALS
Adrian - Gary Laskowsky
Allendale - James Aalderink
Allenton - Christopher Pollock
Ann Arbor - Michael Parsons
Auburn - James Kapala
Battle Creek - John Wooten
Bay City - Paul Anderson
Bloomfield Hills - Richard Lambert
Bronson - Keith Dykman
Buchanan - Francis Mucha
Canton - David Mattingly
Clinton Township - Dennis Cieplak
Clinton Township - Daniel Korbutt
Clio - Neil Monroe
Coleman - Terrance Cashin
Comstock Park - Stanley Hill
DeWitt - Raymond Barnes
Dowagiac - Randy Melvin
East Jordan - H. Michael Burr
East Lansing - John Southwick
Fenton - Hewitt Judson
Fruitport - David Fisher
Grand Blanc - William Chilcutt
Grand Rapids - James Groendyke
Grandville - William Garrett
Hillsdale - Ned White
Jackson - Tim Frey
Jenison - Robert Katsma
Kalamazoo - Charles Hartman
Kewadin - Donald Peck
Lansing - Jerry Sutter
Livonia - Steven Boyak
Livonia - John Dunn
Ludington - Roger Chappel
Manistee - David Johnson
Manistee - David Masengarb
Manistee - Robert McCary
Marlette - Jerry Sauder
Marquette - Gene Aho
Marshall - David Adams
Mio - James Houlton
Monroe - Gary Nowitzke
Northville - Richard Gibson
Norway - Raymond Bray
Ontonagon - John Gravier
Port Huron - James Allen
Portage - David Turley
Posen - Charles Wozniak
Rockford - Donald Bourdon
Rodney - Jeffrey Greene
Rogers City - Michael Grulke
Saginaw - Richard Havercroft
South Haven - Robert Linderman
South Haven - John Long
Stanton - Larry Petersen
Stevensville - Bruce Arter
Temperance - LeRoy Wood
Traverse City - Tom Post
Trenton - Frank Jaskula
West Bloomfield - Anthony Magni
Whitehall - Chuck Hulce
Williamston - John Mueller
45 YEAR OFFICIALS
Bad Axe - Lee Kahler
Caledonia - James Uyl
Clarksville - Ronald Bjork
Dearborn - Eugene Smith
Dryden - Louis Miramonti
Farmington - Jack Inch
Flint - Joseph Ragnone
Grand Blanc - Thomas Evans
Grand Rapids - Lewis Clingman
Grandville - Steve Start
Grayling - Clayton Brown
Hopkins - Mark Austin
Iron Mountain - Richard Olds
Kalamazoo - Fletcher Lewis
Lake City - Gerald Hoekwater
Lake Orion - G. Timothy Curtis
Laurium - Tom Renier
Mears - Richard Tompkins
Muskegon - Michael Henry
New Boston - Richard Nicholson
Paw Paw - Robert Adams
Petoskey - Burt Matteson
Roseville - James Hillock
Wyandotte - Stephen Semetko
50 YEAR OFFICIALS
Ann Arbor - Richard Honig
Bad Axe - Lynn Abke
Burton - Calvin Ter Haar
Jackson - William Hestwood
Livonia - Lyle Beardslee
Muskegon - Ralph Burr