Larry Brown could not have picked more worthy honorees to blow whistles to start the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.

Longtime area residents Dave Parkhurst, Mike Harrison and Clayton Pottle have officiated more basketball games around the state than most of the current officials now lacing up the sneakers and putting on the black-and-white striped jerseys. But their dedication to area youth doesn’t end on the basketball court.

I have known these men for over 50 years and all are well-respected members of the community.

Dave and Clayton put in several years as volunteers with the Boothbay Region High School Boosters Club, raising money through food sales at the Snack Shack and holding other fundraisers for the benefit of BRHS athletics. Mike was the executive director of Boothbay Region YMCA for over two decades and kept a hand in helping area youth grow athletically, spiritually and promoting healthy living and social responsibility. All three basketball officials volunteered their time at various local basketball tournaments and during summer basketball programs at BRHS. I am sure I am not remembering all of their volunteer efforts but what I have explained here means a lot to our former athletes and community.

Having first watched Dave and Clayton compete on the basketball court and football field at BRHS while I was in grammar school, and meeting Mike for the first time during my high school years when we played Yarmouth during summer basketball, it is a pleasure that I got to know these men through the years – watching them work hard for the youth of our community. I am glad to call them friends.

Thank you, too, Larry for choosing such worthy recipients of your “Bleacher Awards.”