GORHAM H.S. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR GERRY DURGIN HONORED BY MABC AT MAINE McDONALD'S® ALL-STAR BASKETBALL BANQUET
BANGOR, Maine (March 11, 2011) - This evening, the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches (MABC) presented its prestigious Bob Brown Contributor Award to Gorham Athletic Director Gerry Durgin. The award was presented at the 2011 Maine McDonald's® High School Senior All-Star Basketball Games banquet at Husson University in Bangor. Each year, the All-Star Games committee selects an honoree who has made a significant contribution to the sport of basketball in Maine.
"For Gerry Durgin, basketball is not only a passion, but also has been a lifetime commitment," said Mike Giordano, MABC West Vice President and Girls Varsity Coach at So. Portland H.S. "Gerry has been involved in Maine High School basketball for more than 38 years as a player, coach and athletic director across the state. We are proud to recognize him for his many contributions to Maine high school basketball."
Durgin began coaching basketball in 1982 at Telstar Regional High School, leading the Rebels to their very first tournament appearance. His career next took him to Fryeburg Academy. In 1988, Durgin's Fryeburg team won the Western Maine Conference Championship and played in the infamous midnight tournament game at the Augusta Civic Center. Recently he was inducted into Fryeburg Academy's inaugural Hall of Fame Class.
In December 2010, the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association honored Durgin with the National Award of Merit - the highest and most prestigious award given to an athletic director in the United States.
Also honored at the MABC Awards Banquet were members of the All-State Academic Team, the Maine McDonald's High School Senior All-Star Basketball Players, All-Star Coaches, the Maine McDonald's Spirit of the Game Award recipients, the MABC Media Award honoree, and Mr. and Miss Basketball.
The 2011 Maine McDonald's High School Senior All-Star Games will be played at Newman Gymnasium on the campus of Husson University in Bangor on Saturday, March 12. The game-day program will feature head-to-head competition between top players in the state's A/B and C/D Boys and Girls divisions. Game Day tickets are available at the door and are good for all four Games. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.
Net proceeds from the Games benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of Maine. RMHC of Maine is a non-profit organization whose goal is to help Maine children and families lead happier, healthier and more productive lives. Since its founding in 1989, RMHC of Maine has granted more than $1.6 million to local children's programs that make a measurable impact in our communities. More information is available at www.rmhcmaine.org .
In addition to underwriting the cost of planning and executing the event, the Maine McDonald's Owner/Operator Association, a collaboration of 13 local Maine McDonald's franchisees, works hand-in-hand with the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches and lead sponsors to make the event possible: Hannaford, Maine Athletic Fundraising, Newman's Own® Organics, McCain Foods, Coastal T-Shirts, WLBZ-2, Bangor and WCSH-6, Portland. In-kind sponsors include Transformit of Gorham and Headlight Audio/Visual of Portland.
