April 6th - Lethbridge Herald
By Dave Wells
2 Jun
The Alberta Schools Athletic Association was formed in 1956. Fifteen years hence the ASAA established the annual Robert H. Routledge Award “in the recognition of outstanding service to the students of Alberta schools in the promotion and operation of an athletic program.” Although the ASAA has added individual awards since there’s little doubt why the Routledge is listed first at the organization’s www.asaa.ca cyberspace home.
This year’s Routledge will be formally presented on May 14 in Edmonton as part of the ASAA’s Annual General Meeting weekend. However, thanks to one of the nominators, I already know who will be accorded the lasting Routledge honour. Given the current school (and for the most part school sports’) Easter Break, this seems like the perfect opportunity for me to laud 2010 recipient Terry Hanna.
Terry has served as athletic director at Coaldale Kate Andrews since 1991. Thus it is fitting he was nominated for the Routledge by appreciative fellow long-term Kate Andrews athletic stalwarts Danny Roberts and Kevin Holland. I have a copy of the nomination information Danny and Kevin submitted to the ASAA on behalf of Terry’s candidacy. It’s an impressive summation highlighting a lengthy, intense body of work.
The nominators opined: “Terry’s passion for athletics may be genetic and it is our hope that he can follow in the footsteps of his father, Mr. George Hanna, the Routledge Award recipient in 1988.”
Indeed, not to get too deep into the nature-versus-nurture debate here (although it is one of my favourite topics of discussion), there can be little doubt Terry’s immediate clan exhibits a love of sports. It’s a trait that shines through in the Next Generation too.
Terry was (he’d probably prefer me to say “is”) a good athlete. Although much my senior (okay, one year) I recall reading about Terry’s outstanding achievements on high school playing fields and courts.
Like his dad Terry has served many seasons as an at-times voluble, fundamentals-preaching coach. In fact, he’s mentored teams at various Alberta schools for over three decades.
Heck, I can even recall Terry going over to the dark side and serving as a game official.
To me, I see the most similarity between George and Terry in the meeting rooms. George could be absolutely formidable in that environment. Indeed, it’s a forte of Terry’s too.
One of my pet peeves is when people deride athletic decisions as being “political.” Of course, especially in terms of votes, there is a political aspect to the process. Democracy is often messy, but it’s better than any other comparable system I’m aware of (apart fom me being named benevolent dictator , which doesn’t seem too likely.) I really respect folks who work hard within the political arena — but who then toil even harder at implementing whatever decisions are made. To me, that’s Terry Hanna to a T.
Terry served the ASAA in a multitude of tasks at the provincial level, including boys basketball commissioner from 1997-2001. He’s chaired multiple provincial championships. Frankly, I think Terry would have made a fine ASAA president had he ever sought out the post. I know numerous power brokers agreed with me.
Terry has spent three separate one-year terms as the ASAA South Zone president. He’s put in nine years on the zone board all-told. His list of further zone contributions, including chairing a plethora of zone championships, is gargantuan.
Terry’s contribution to area high school sports extends much further however. For example, he’s worked on the Southern Alberta Interscholastic Administrative Council’s executive and served as president of leagues on perhaps double-digit occasions. I gratefully attest he has a special aptitude at scheduling.
Of course, Terry has spent literally thousands of hours organizing athletics at Kate Andrews, where he’s simply known as “TH”. Terry’s clearly become a community leader through these efforts.
High school sports in Alberta has clearly benefited from the contributions made by past local Routledge winners. This list includes Jim Whitelaw (1978), Mal Clewes (1982), Dean Rook (1983), George Hanna (1988), Leroy Walker (1991), Debbie Yanota (1992), Marg Derbyshire (1994) and Glen Magneson (2004).
Terry Hanna is a bright addition to this golden legacy. Congratulations TH!