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Mark Cahill CHIPPA Award for Excellence in Officiating
This award is presented to an official who exemplifies the CHIPPA Criteria: Communicate, Hustle, In Position, and Positive Attitude.
The award honors Mark Cahill, a GABL Court of Honor member and varsity high school official who passed away in 2015.
2020 Recipient: Virgil Smith
Virgil Smith has been an official for GABL since the early 90’s. Along with his service to GABL, Virgil has officiated 100’s of high school and middle school basketball games over the years. Virgil spent many years as a varsity and youth football official as well. His wife, Joyce, has been by his side during his entire officiating career.
2019 Recipient: Ted Allen
Ted Allen has officiated at the youth, high school, college, and adult levels in basketball, men’s softball, and volleyball for over 40 years. He has served as an officials scheduler for multiple organizations, including two years with GABL. He and his wife, LouAnn, have two children, Brecca and Nic, and seven grandchildren.
2018 Recipient: Mike Harmon
Mike Harmon has officiated baseball and softball for 25 years, basketball for 33 years, and football for 33 years. He has served as a GABL official for 33 years. He and his wife, Kelly, have two children, Kyly and Aly.
2017 Recipient: Don Fazio
Don Fazio has officiated baseball and softball for 44 years, basketball for 19 years (including 714 GABL games), and football for 11 years. In his free time, he enjoys bowling and playing golf.
2016 Recipient: Brian Watson
Brian Watson was the inaugural recipient of the CHIPPA Award. He has officiated at youth, high school, and college levels for over 10 years and served on the GABL Academy staff. After a 20-year career in finance and consulting, he became a teacher and is now principal at Tomahawk Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District.
