Post by Iced!!! on Dec 6, 2006 15:18:28 GMT -5
from the Pall-Times, an article about a man well deserved of recognition.
www.pall-times.com/articles/2006/12/06/sports/sports2.txt
OSWEGO MAN HONORED FOR HIS VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO YOUTH HOCKEY
By MIKE LEBOEUF, Sports Editor
OSWEGO - For nearly 40 years, Oswego's Paul Furman has volunteered on behalf of youth hockey.
His longtime service in a variety of capacities was recognized recently with a special award.
At the fall meeting of the Central New York Youth Hockey Association in Auburn, Furman received an award for his volunteer efforts. It was presented to him by Doug Ackley, New York State director emeritus.
The award will now be known as the Paul Furman Award, and will be presented annually to an outstanding volunteer in the Central Section of the New York State Amateur Hockey Association.
“I feel very honored,” Furman said. “They surprised me.”
Many members of Furman's family were on hand for the presentation, which seems only fitting since the entire family has been a part of youth hockey through the years.
“I started out when my son wanted to play minor hockey in about 1968,” Furman said. He signed up his son, Paul, and shortly was asked by the coach if he could help with the team.
“I could skate a little bit, but I hadn't skated in quite a while,” Furman said. “I told him I didn't know anything about hockey, but they needed people to help out.”
Furman coached at the squirt level, and later became the Squirt House League coordinator for the Oswego Minor Hockey Association.
He also served on the OMHA's board of directors, where he was the treasurer. His responsibilities included handling insurance aspects.
Furman later became the OMHA's road team coordinator and then ice coordinator.
As he demonstrated his ability to handle all these responsibilities well, additional opportunities came Furman's way. He chaired state and sectionals tournaments when Oswego hosted them.
In 1980, Furman was asked to run for president of the Central Section, and he served three years in that capacity.
Then at a state board meeting, Furman was asked to take over as state tournament director, a position he still holds.
This year, Furman is overseeing 82 tournaments in all, including pre-sectional, sectional, and state tournaments.
While these volunteer efforts have taken much time and effort, it's been a positive experience, Furman said. “It's been very rewarding. It's been a lot of fun,” he said.
Furman and his wife Patricia still found time to attend the hockey games played by their four children.
Their son Paul played minor hockey and on the Oswego High School team. He was also a member of the SUNY Canton team which won two junior college national championships.
Danny also played minor hockey and high school hockey in Oswego. He's in the Navy now, and plays in a men's hockey league in Groton, Conn. He also coaches a high school team there.
Timmy started playing youth hockey at age 4, and played for a couple of years until an accident ended his playing career. He stayed involved as a fan, and served as manager of the Oswego High School team for four years.
Kimberly played girls minor hockey in Oswego and later played for the Oswego State women's team.
The family hockey tradition has extended to Furman's grandchildren. Bobbie Rae Faivus played on the first Oswego High School varsity girls hockey team, and Danielle Faivus is playing for the 12-and-under Syracuse Stars.
Furman has been previously honored for his efforts volunteering for youth hockey. He and his wife in 1975 received the Joseph J. Scanlon Award for their contributions to Oswego Minor Hockey.
And in 1992, Furman received the Peter Rush Award from the New York State Amateur Hockey Association Board of Directors for outstanding service to minor hockey.
Furman, who is retired from Alcan, said this may be his final year of being involved in an official capacity with youth hockey. He said four section coordinators were appointed this past year to assist with his role as state tournament director.
Furman said he would like to have more time to spend with his family, and just to pursue other interests.
“There's other things I'd like to do,” he said.
But if and when Furman steps away from official service to youth hockey, his contributions will never be forgotten. They will serve as a template for the future winners of the Paul Furman Award.
www.pall-times.com/articles/2006/12/06/sports/sports2.txt
OSWEGO MAN HONORED FOR HIS VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO YOUTH HOCKEY
By MIKE LEBOEUF, Sports Editor
OSWEGO - For nearly 40 years, Oswego's Paul Furman has volunteered on behalf of youth hockey.
His longtime service in a variety of capacities was recognized recently with a special award.
At the fall meeting of the Central New York Youth Hockey Association in Auburn, Furman received an award for his volunteer efforts. It was presented to him by Doug Ackley, New York State director emeritus.
The award will now be known as the Paul Furman Award, and will be presented annually to an outstanding volunteer in the Central Section of the New York State Amateur Hockey Association.
“I feel very honored,” Furman said. “They surprised me.”
Many members of Furman's family were on hand for the presentation, which seems only fitting since the entire family has been a part of youth hockey through the years.
“I started out when my son wanted to play minor hockey in about 1968,” Furman said. He signed up his son, Paul, and shortly was asked by the coach if he could help with the team.
“I could skate a little bit, but I hadn't skated in quite a while,” Furman said. “I told him I didn't know anything about hockey, but they needed people to help out.”
Furman coached at the squirt level, and later became the Squirt House League coordinator for the Oswego Minor Hockey Association.
He also served on the OMHA's board of directors, where he was the treasurer. His responsibilities included handling insurance aspects.
Furman later became the OMHA's road team coordinator and then ice coordinator.
As he demonstrated his ability to handle all these responsibilities well, additional opportunities came Furman's way. He chaired state and sectionals tournaments when Oswego hosted them.
In 1980, Furman was asked to run for president of the Central Section, and he served three years in that capacity.
Then at a state board meeting, Furman was asked to take over as state tournament director, a position he still holds.
This year, Furman is overseeing 82 tournaments in all, including pre-sectional, sectional, and state tournaments.
While these volunteer efforts have taken much time and effort, it's been a positive experience, Furman said. “It's been very rewarding. It's been a lot of fun,” he said.
Furman and his wife Patricia still found time to attend the hockey games played by their four children.
Their son Paul played minor hockey and on the Oswego High School team. He was also a member of the SUNY Canton team which won two junior college national championships.
Danny also played minor hockey and high school hockey in Oswego. He's in the Navy now, and plays in a men's hockey league in Groton, Conn. He also coaches a high school team there.
Timmy started playing youth hockey at age 4, and played for a couple of years until an accident ended his playing career. He stayed involved as a fan, and served as manager of the Oswego High School team for four years.
Kimberly played girls minor hockey in Oswego and later played for the Oswego State women's team.
The family hockey tradition has extended to Furman's grandchildren. Bobbie Rae Faivus played on the first Oswego High School varsity girls hockey team, and Danielle Faivus is playing for the 12-and-under Syracuse Stars.
Furman has been previously honored for his efforts volunteering for youth hockey. He and his wife in 1975 received the Joseph J. Scanlon Award for their contributions to Oswego Minor Hockey.
And in 1992, Furman received the Peter Rush Award from the New York State Amateur Hockey Association Board of Directors for outstanding service to minor hockey.
Furman, who is retired from Alcan, said this may be his final year of being involved in an official capacity with youth hockey. He said four section coordinators were appointed this past year to assist with his role as state tournament director.
Furman said he would like to have more time to spend with his family, and just to pursue other interests.
“There's other things I'd like to do,” he said.
But if and when Furman steps away from official service to youth hockey, his contributions will never be forgotten. They will serve as a template for the future winners of the Paul Furman Award.