Marc H. Blau Meritorious Service Award

Craig Lowry

If he wasn't at his desk making up schedules for baseball, football or basketballs games, forming teams, finding coaches, conducting clinics, or ordering uniforms he was probably outside dragging the field, moving the line, installing bases or taking out the garbage. No job was too big or too small for Craig Lowry because he never considered those responsibilities work.  He was just doing what needed to be done to enhance the experience of participating in sports and other recreational activities.

Craig Lowry was born April 4, 1931 in Sac City, Iowa, graduated in 1949 from Junction City HS and then attended Kansas State University before completing his college education at the College of Puget Sound in 1956.

Craig was a dedicated and loyal employee of the local Boys and Girls Club organization in Tacoma having operated the Northwest Boys and Girls Club from 1960-1980 out of his basement until a small building was purchased at North 37^th & Cheyenne in the early 1970's. He then became the Branch Director of the Gonyea Boys and Girls Club form 1980-1991. For many years Craig trained and assigned umpires for all of the youth games organized by Metro Parks before retiring in 1991.

Craig enjoyed playing baseball and golf but he really loved officiating football, basketball, baseball and softball. Craig also cherished 39 years he and Joyce were married and loved the time he spent coaching his three children—Cathy, Craig and Cheri----and then later on his grandchildren as well. Coaching little leagues is what made Craig happy and he could usually be found on the diamond at any given moment offering help to a struggling child.

When asked about her dad, daughter Cheri said, "Dad's whole life was involved with sports either playing, coaching or being an umpire.  His passion for children led him to be a mentor for a lot of children in his position at the Gonyea Boys and Girls Club.  He was a hero to a lot of people including myself. “

"Our father was our hero", continued Cheri. "He was a wonderful inspiration to many young children and older adults and our family is honored to have this award given to him." Craig Lowry passed away in 2006.