Both of our honorees graduated from Glouster High School in 1959. Both were active in various sports and both won multiple varsity letters.
Tonight's honorees were not only similar in appearance, but they were also similar in the way that they lived their lives. They both shared a love of sports and a strong commitment to the young people of Trimble Township.
Woody Hayes, the legendary Ohio State football coach, believed in the concept of "paying forward". According to this belief, an individual could never adequately repay the people who had helped them through life, and the best way to attempt this was by helping others along in the same manner that they themselves had been helped. Instead of paying back, to the previous generation, paying forward, to the next generation.
Tonight's honorees are good examples of how a person pays forward.
Jon Holbert coached young people in Trimble Township for twenty years. He coached little league football, basketball, and baseball. He coached pony league baseball and both boys and girls junior high basketball teams. He was also one of the founders of the Athens County Little League baseball program. Jon was a basketball official and baseball umpire for a total of 14 years and served on the Trimble Local Board of
Education from 1972 until 1983.
Don Holbert has coached young people in Trimble Township since 1963.
He coached little league baseball and football, and also junior high basketball and football. He has been a varsity assistant football coach at Trimble High School since 1988, and continues to serve in that capacity today.
He has also officiated varsity baseball, softball and basketball since 1972.
Don has been recognized by the Ohio High School Athletic Association on two separate occasions for his contribution to high school athletics.
In 1996, he received the OHSAA's award for Ethics, Integrity, and Sportsmanship, and in 2005 he received the OHSAA's State Award for Exemplary Contribution and Service.
On behalf of the Trimble Alumni Football Players Association and the many, many players that they have coached over the last 42 years, we would like to express our appreciation for the positive contribution made to our community by Jon and Don Holbert.
Presenting the awards this evening on behalf of the Trimble Alumni Football Players Association will be Jon Holbert's son Jeff, and Don Holbert's son Jim.
Jon Holbert passed away on April 4, 1990. Representing him this evening will be his wife Jane, daughter Kim, son Jeff and his wife Michelle, along with their sons Jonathan and Tanner.
Don Holbert is accompanied by his wife Marilyn, son Jim, and Jim's son Don.
Let's have a round of applause for this years honorees, Jon and Don Holbert.