LaRue, Ray, Ward, Davis among honorees at banquet

When Dennis LaRue was playing hockey more than 20 years ago as a defenseman with the Spokane Chiefs, late coach Al Rollins informed him his future was limited. But it was Rollins who headed him in the direction of officiating, LaRue said.

Today, the Spokane native has the best of all worlds. He lives in Spokane with his family and travels to indulge his hockey passion.

LaRue in his 18th year as a National Hockey League referee. He has worked three Olympics, most recently in 2006, and the World Championships.

On Wednesday, he was one of four individuals whose contributions to their sports were recognized with special awards at the 30th Spokane Regional Sports Commission Youth Awards Luncheon.

LaRue received an Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters (SWABS) Certificate of Achievement honoring his work in hockey that began as a youth player here and transitioned into minor league, then world and NHL officiating.

At the lunch he encouraged young athletes there, whose playing careers may be coming to an end, to give back as officials, saying the best are former players.

Three others received SWABS 25-year awards for their long and successful tenures – a longtime administrator and two successful volleyball coaches.

Maury Ray, who came to Spokane in 1972 as an assistant basketball coach and instructor, made his niche as Community Colleges of Spokane athletic director. He had been a head college basketball coach in Minnesota and assisted at two Division I Universities before he arrived.

In 1979, Ray, who was Spokane Community Colleges A.D., became overseer of a combined program with Spokane Falls CC that encompassed 15 sports and a wealth of Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges championships.

Former Ferris volleyball coach Stacey Ward and former Freeman volleyball coach Kenny Davis also received plaques. Ward’s teams were dominant in the 1990s with four successive league titles between ‘96 and ‘99 and six state trophies, including the championship in 1997 and seconds in ‘98 and 2001.

Davis was successful during his tenure at Freeman with two fourth places in Class B in 1990 and ‘92 and seven state appearances as a 1A school, placing five times, including third and second.