The LaVans were each awarded the Beverly M. Owens-Gaither Meritorious Service Award for “consistently showing a devotion to PIAA, interscholastic athletics and the athletes we serve,” according to the PIAA.

“The award winner shows a constant and consistent devotion through their working relationship with PIAA and its many activities. This person (or persons) will have gained this award through a distinctive period of service to PIAA.”

Pioneers in the PIAA’s Junior Officials’ Program, Lisa is a District 10 officials representative and Warren Area High School girls basketball coach, and Tim is a district basketball interpreter, PIAA championship basketball official and Oil City High School athletic director.

“Tim and I love to work with young people and help them find their passion in sports,” said Lisa. “He did it at Oil City for 32 years as a math teacher. It has always been for us to push kids into sports. We are still doing that and also helping them think about finding an avocation in officiating.”

The Beverly M. Owens-Gaither Meritorious Service Award winner shows a constant and consistent devotion through their working relationship with PIAA and its many activities. This person (or persons) will have gained this award through a distinctive period of service to PIAA. Submitted Photo

Lisa said the award is primarily “for our efforts in recruiting officials and, more importantly, Junior Officials.

“We have brought in 12 new basketball officials in our amazing basketball chapter — Tri-City Basketball Officials, which is based out of the Franklin, Oil City and Titusville area,” she said. “All 12 are Junior Officials and will be mentored by many of our state championship officials. It is about building future leaders and I absolutely love it.”

Tim, although “humbled” to receive the award, is “honored to receive it (with Lisa),” he said. “We do make a great team.

“Rick Fletcher asked me to become a basketball official the first fall I taught in Oil City (1994),” he said. “I was extremely fortunate to have excellent officials around me who helped me. I was introduced to Joe Frisina my first year and he became a great mentor and even better friend. All I do in officiating is with Joe in mind, and hoping I am making him proud.

“I have been extremely fortunate to get to the highest level of officiating in the PIAA and also worked in college basketball,” said Tim. “It is very gratifying to see people I feel I have helped get to great levels in their officiating careers as Joe did. The PIAA Junior Officials program has been a fantastic opportunity for us, as experienced officials, to seek out new officials who are 16 and 17… and will be making life changes at college or the workplace.

“As a teacher for 32 years and the athletic director at Oil City, I was blessed to have another view to find new, young officials,” he said. “Last winter and spring, we found four new Junior Officials at Oil City, two at Cranberry, one at Franklin and five at Warren. All 12 played basketball and their coaches were very accommodating in allowing their players to get on the court to officiate also. One Venango Catholic student contacted me about volleyball and I helped her also. I will help a Junior Official in any sport.”

Anyone ages 16 or 17 who is interested in officiating any sport for the PIAA, e-mail Tim LaVan at timlavan1@gmail.com. There is no registration fee for the PIAA, D-10 will reimburse a new official up to $300 to pay for clearances and uniform, and the PIAA also gives a free Officials Convention registration if the official wants to attend, he said.

“I will help get the application submitted, the clearances obtained and submitted, and answer any other questions,” Tim added.