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The Earl "Yogi" Strom Award
The Annual
Sportsmanship Award which started in 1995 is presented
to an area school in honor of Earl "Yogi" Strom.
Yogi, a 1945 graduate of Pottstown High School, was a member
of the Pottstown Chapter of PIAA Officials and a high school
official for nine years before moving on to the college level
and then the NBA. He was elected to the Naismith
Basketball Hall of Fame on May 15th,1995; and was considered
by many to be the best official the NBA ever had.
Each year
chapter members vote for any area school which displays outstanding
courtesy and sportsmanship by players, coaches, Athletic Directors,
fans/community members. A representative from the winning
school is invited to the Chapter's year end banquet where
the award (initially a plaque & now a banner which can
be hung in the gym) is presented to the school to display
for the following year.
On
Monday 08 February 2010, the Pottstown Chapter of
PIAA Basketball Officials held  their
Annual Year End Banquet. President Joe Gaffey introduced Guest
Speaker Ken Davis (Former Pottstown Teacher
& Basketball Coach) by sharing some of his career accomplishments
as listed in the program for his induction into the Montgomery
County Coaches Hall of Fame.
"1980 - Ken Davis
was named head coach of the Pottstown Trojans. Despite being
one of the smallest schools in the Ches-Mont League Pottstown
appeared in four of the league's Final Four Championship games
and went 61-22 under Davis. Then after moving to the Pioneer
Athletic Conference in 1986 Pottstown became one of the new
alignment's most dominant teams - in all sports-under Davis'
direction." To
read more Click HERE !
Ken then shared some
of his favorite remembrances of Earl Strom, and his accomplishments
as "The Best Referee in the NBA". Ken then spoke
of of the significance of a school receiving the Strom Sportsmanship
Award, and congratulated Athletic Director Gary DeRenzo and
the staff whose efforts earned the recognition from the Chapter's
Members. On behalf of the Pottstown Chapter of PIAA Basketball
Officials, Ken then presented Gary DeRenzo with the 2010 Plaque.
A Banner has also been ordered, which will be presented to
be hung in the Pottsgrove Gymnasium.
Gary DeRenzo accepted
the award on behalf of the Pottsgrove School District, and
was quick to praise all the members of his staff for their
efforts. He went on to say how special it was to receive an
award which bore the name of Earl Strom and was presented
by Ken Davis; two men who exemplified those admirable qualities
which they as a staff try to pass on to student athletes.
Click
Here to read the related article by Jeff Stover in
The Mercury
L - R:
President; Joseph Gaffey, Scott Palladino, Gloria Fritz, Gary
DeRenzo, Dave Ward
Ken Davis, Jill Ludy, Rick Pennypacker, Marilyn Eaton, Ken
Ivory
**
Congratulations to 2010 Winner:
Pottsgrove High School **
PAST WINNERS
| YEAR |
WINNING
SCHOOL |
| |
|
| 2010 |
Pottsgrove High School |
| 2009 |
Spring-Ford High School |
| 2008 |
Spring-Ford High School |
| 2007 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 2006 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 2005 |
Upper Perkiomen
High School |
| 2004 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 2003 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 2002 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 2001 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 2000 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 1999 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 1998 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 1997 |
Spring-Ford High
School |
| 1996 |
Pottstown High
School |
| 1995 |
Upper Perkiomen
High School |
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