Late congratulations to John Mark Williams, who was named winner of the Distinguished American Award at the National Football Foundation Miss-Lou chapter banquet, and to Merriel McCellis, winner of the Contribution to Amateur Football Award.

John Mark, through his tireless service as secretary-treasurer of the chapter, is responsible for watching over and distributing the annual scholarship awards to each year’s winners, as well as seeing to the proper handling and security of those funds as they are accumulated by the club.

Back in August, we were pleased to write about the selection of Merriel McCellis as Official of the Year by the MHSAA. He’s truly deserving of his latest award.

If there were awards for contribution to amateur basketball, baseball, softball and probably several other sports, he would deserve those awards as well.

I saw Merriel only a couple of weeks ago, and he was spending a Saturday morning refereeing basketball for fifth- and sixth-graders, including one of my granddaughters, Kerrie Dicks.

Another granddaughter, Taylor Beesley, played at another location. If the two sessions hadn’t overlapped, Merriel probably would have officiated those games also.

Two truly deserving winners of these awards.

Since the Distinguished American Award and the Contribution to Amateur Football Award began in 1982, several winners have been officials.

Distinguished American winners Louis Miller in 1986 and Billy Preister in 1987 both spent time officiating.

Bob &uot;Red&uot; Owens, the 1991 winner, 1995 winner Fred Foster and 2002 winner Gene McGehee are long-time officials who all worked several sports, including football.

I was the winner in 1984, and hopefully it was because of my high school officiating rather than college officiating, because in this day and time that can hardly be called amateur football.

Andy Pressgrove, the 1985 winner, had a stellar football officiating career at both the high school and major college levels.

J.O. &uot;Obie&uot; Brown, the 1986 award winner, was an official in the old Gulf South Conference and had been a successful high school coach. He was followed in 1987 by Clarence Bowlin, the dean of officiating in southwest Mississippi.

The late Malcolm Wallace, who won in 1990, was among the better-known football referees in the area.

Sports officiating is certainly a rewarding avocation whatever the sport or level of play.

There is obviously dedication required of an individual to officiate any sport at the highest level, but no less dedication is expected of those who choose to officiate at the high school or youth level of play.

I again offer congratulations to John Mark Williams and Merriel McCellis, who certainly deserve those awards.

Also, I congratulate the young men who were honored for their football and classroom excellence. You youngsters are great role models for your peers and other young people. Keep it up.

And that’s official.

Al Graning is a former SEC official and former Natchez resident. Reach him at

AlanWard39157@aol.com.