Roger Shaw of Mars Hill and Lynwood McHatten of Ashland, both renowned for their many years involved in education and basketball officiating, are representing the northern region as the newest inductees into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors.
This honor is presented to men and women for their extraordinary commitment and work behind the scenes, both academically and athletically. Both will officially be inducted at the Maine Sports Legends Annual Banquet at the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville Oct. 11.
Roger Shaw
Shaw is a long-time educator, coach, basketball official, athlete director, principal and presently superintendent.
He currently holds the position of Superintendent of Schools at MSAD 42 in Mars Hill. Prior to that, he had served as a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal in the school system since 1968.
“Roger has been a successful educator because of his competitive spirit and drive in teaching, coaching and administrative roles,” said Frank Keenan, superintendent of school in Easton. “ He takes great pride in his community, its schools and his students.”
Dick Durost, executive director of the Maine Principal’s Association, says, “Roger is an unusual educator in that he remained in his home town serving the community he loves for over 40 years.”
Shaw has invested a lot of time and energy advocating for parity and equity for schools in Aroostook County, and all rural areas of Maine. He is most proud that a large majority of students at Central Aroostook High School participate in at least one of the co-curricular programs offered, due largely to the fact that they offer a full range of activities, some of which may not be offered in many small schools. He has gained widespread community support to develop one of the premier athletic facilities in Maine at Central Aroostook High School, including a lighted soccer field which enables families to watch their children play and not miss work.
Shaw has served as varsity boys soccer coach and junior varsity boys basketball coach at CAHS, while later becoming an assistant principal and athletic director. From 1988-1995, he served as principal of Central Arostook Junior-Senior High School. He has been in his current post for the last 14 years.
Through these years, he was a member of many professional affiliations: Accreditation Teams for New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Eastern Maine Basketball Tournament Facilities Committee, Chairman of the MPA State Basketball Committee.
Shaw was twice named Maine Superintendent’ Association Outstanding Education Leadership Award recipient and was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.
Roger Sherman, senator of Maine’s 34th District, states that “Roger’s activities as a responsible citizen are numerous – spending his career in education and being an active member of his community and state – but in particular his enthusiasm for the youth athletics and education demonstrates his desire to nurture children to be excellent stewards of Maine’s future.”
Ron Barker, executive director of the Maine School Superintendents Association, said, “I really got to work closely with Roger and to understand what a dedicated educational leader he was and how much he loved his school system, community and his ‘job.’
“Whenever I needed advice, support or someone to serve on a committee, Roger was always one of the first people I would ask.”
In 1970, Roger Shaw discovered basketball officiating. As a member of IAABO #150 basketball officials board, a new labor of love was formed and he became one of Maine’s most successful officials for 37 years.
Peter Webb, Maine State Basketball Commissioner states, “Roger is among the finest athletic citizens within and outside of Maine, a leading and highly-respected participant in the Maine high school basketball scene”.
Shaw is believed to be the only official to work the state championship games in all four classes for both boys and girls.
As a leader of the local officiating board, Shaw always pushed for strong professionalism from all members of the officiating board and he remains an IAABO member to the present day.
Although Shaw’s busy career leaves little free time, he is an avid enthusiast of hunting, fishing and four-wheeling. He is a certified Hunter Safety Instructor and has offered classes for 32 years, providing the opportunity for parents and students to hunt safely in the Maine woods. He is director of the Northern Maine Fair Association, past member of Mars Hill Town Council and presently a member of Mars Hill Rotary Club. He also like to golf and travel with his wife, Heidi. The Shaws, who reside in Mars Hill, have two adult children and many other family members who live close by.
“Roger has lived his life doing good for others, especially young people,” Keenan added. “He is a true ambassador of education and sports, touching thousands of lives with dignity and class.”
Lynwood McHatten
Like Shaw, McHatten is also a veteran educator, coach and basketball official in Aroostook County.
He taught at Masardis Central School and Ashland Community High School from 1967 to 1977. He then moved to Caribou High School, where he was a guidance counselor for 16 years. In 1993 to the present, he holds the position of guidance director at Ashland Community High School, helping all students achieve their goals towards college, universities, community colleges, armed services or the job force.
Dick Durost, Executive Director in the Maine Principal’s Association, says, “Lyn is a highly respected guidance director who has served all the students in Caribou and presently Ashland extremely well for decades.”
Not only do college-bound students benefit from McHatten’s guidance, but also alternative schools as he is the chairman of the board of directors for the Carleton Project, which governs alternative education.
As an athlete, McHatten played basketball and baseball in high school and college. During his high school years he played in the Maine/New Brunswick League, equivalent of the American Legion today.
“Although a gifted athlete”, says his brother, Cliff McHatten, “his greatest gift was his ability to coach young athletes. He coached several teams to nearly perfect records and had a true gift for bringing the best out of his players in and off the field. He had high expectations for his players and modeled hard work, character and the importance of ‘team play’ for success.”
From 1969 to 1975, he coached varsity baseball at Ashland High School and from 1979 to 1986 coached JV baseball at Caribou High School. He had outstanding human relations with students, parents, athlete’s coaches and school administrators throughout these years.
In 1974, McHatten found a new way to continue promoting his loyalty to young student athletes by becoming an IAABO Board 150 basketball official. He has always modeled dependability, sound character, good judgment and professionalism in every game he has officiated.
Matt McHatten, his son, said, “Dad always prided himself in keeping up with the athletes by being in excellent physical condition. I remember well his preparation leading up to the basketball season which included knowing all the new rules and working out as he does as a hobby anyway, to keep himself in top physical shape. Both were important to upholding his commitment to professionalism once he stepped foot on the basketball floors of Arooostook County.”
Durost added, “Lyn has the perfect temperament for handling athletes, coaches and fans at regular season games or tournament games. That’s why he’s such an outstanding official.”
McHatten became the sub-varsity IAABO Board 150 game assignor in 1987 and in 1989 to the present date his is the varsity assignor. John Plourde, a close friend and colleague basketball official says, “Lyn took the varsity assignor’s role in 1989 with deep understanding of the nuances associated with ‘County’ basketball, a sense of fairness to his fellow officials and a commitment to excellence with regard to the game he loves.”
A fellow Aroostook County official, John Stephenson, tells how he feels about Lyn’s assignor position. “He truly cares about the game of basketball, and we see that in the way he assigns officials. For over 20 years, Lyn takes into consideration the competitiveness of the teams playing, the experience of the officials and the atmosphere of the venue. By protecting officials not to reach above their abilities, he ultimately helps them become better officials through experience. Assigning basketball officials is a tough job that Lyn does extremely well.”
In the community Lyn continues his commitment through a number of activities and organizations: Deaconate Chair of his church, Board of Directors and President of Northwood Manor (assisted living facility), Chairman of Carlton Project Alternative School and Mentor-Coach of MELMAC Education Foundation that gives grants to schools. He oversees the grants at Katahdin and Southern Aroostook schools.
“The ‘Silver Fox’ has been roaming the hardwood floors for over four decades and he still believes that every game deserves the same effort, enthusiasm and expertise,” Plourde said. “He has never lost sight that the game is truly for the student athlete, which is his legacy.”
With any free time, McHatten likes to read, exercise, jog and spend time with family and friends. He is also a lifelong fan of Major League Baseball and follows the Red Sox and Atlanta Braves closely. McHatten has a grown son, Matt of Mapleton, and a daughter, Marcey of Scarborough, as well as two granddaughters, Shaye and Paige McHatten of Mapleton.
Contributed photo
ROGER SHAW, superintendent of SAD 42 and a long-time basketball official, will be inducted into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors. The banquet is set for Oct. 11 in Waterville.
Contributed photo
LYNWOOD MCHATTEN, getting ready to toss the ball up for the opening tip-off at an UMPI basketball game, is the newest member of the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors.