Page 24 - 2016-17 Boys Basketball State Finals Program

Richard Lugar Award

INAUGURAL AWARD NAMED FOR SENATOR RICHARD G. LUGAR

Senator Richard G. Lugar is the inaugural recipi- ensuring the new Market Square Arena was built
ent for an award named in his honor in what will large enough to host the IHSAA state finals which
become an annual tradition at the IHSAA Boys were played there from 1975-1989. Lugar attended
Basketball State Finals. each of the boys high school state championships
and regularly attended many contests throughout
At halftime of the 4A state the state tournament leading up to the state finals.
championship game on
Saturday night, IHSAA During his high school days at Shortridge High
Commissioner Bobby Cox School in Indianapolis, Lugar participated in
and Jim Morris, Vice Chair- basketball, football and track and was involved in
man of Pacers Sports and many other student clubs and activities and gradu-
Entertainment, will present ated first in his class in 1950.
the Richard G. Lugar Award
for Distinguished Service to A fifth generation Hoosier who left the United
Interscholastic Athletics. States Senate as the longest serving member of
Congress in Indiana history (1977-2013), Lugar
A long-time supporter of the Indiana High School is recognized as a gifted local and state leader,
Athletic Association and education-based athletics, as well as a respected national and international
Lugar was instrumental as Mayor of Indianapolis in statesman.

Outstanding Official

State’s Top Official
Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association is a licensed volleyball and girls’ basketball official, and he
honors an outstanding official in each sport during the State has refereed the state finals for each of those sports as well
Finals Tournament. (Seven volleyball finals and five girls’ basketball finals).
Kirk Robinson, of Akron, Indiana, is the Kirk was selected for this honor by a committee represent-
recipient of the 2016-17 ing the official’s associations.
IHSAA Outstanding Bas- In Indiana, there are 24 associations made up of more
ketball Official award. As than 7,000 men and women who give up much of their
a member of the Northern personal time to assist in providing wholesome, worthwhile,
Indiana Officials As- and healthy activities for the student-athletes in our state.
sociation, Kirk has been a Statewide, there are more than 8,000 officials licensed by
licensed basketball official the IHSAA in 11 sports.
for the past 32 years where Kirk is the owner and purchasing manager or Pike
he has served as the Presi- Lumber Company in Akron, Indiana, where he has worked
dent, Basketball Chairman, for the past 35 years. He is very active in his community,
treasurer, and secretary serving as the President of the Akron Revitalization Com-
for his association. During mittee, the former President and current board member of
his career, he’s officiated the Akron Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Akron
23 basketball sectional championships, 16 regionals, five Lions Club, and many others. Kirk and his wife of 37 years,
(5) semi-states, and three (3) state finals. In addition, Kirk Kim, have two children – Kyle (32) and Kara (27).

24 IHSAA State Basketball Tournament presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever