Harris Honored With OVU Athletics Butterfield Service Award

VIENNA, WV (April 17, 2007) — Ohio Valley University has awarded Norm Harris the athletic department’s annual Cliff Butterfield Service Award, OVU Athletics Director Ron Pavan announced.

“The Cliff Butterfield Service Award is presented annually to individuals who demonstrate outstanding volunteerism and service to the OVU athletics program,” Pavan said. “We are thrilled to honor Norm Harris as the 2007 award recipient and express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for everything he has done to help strengthen, encourage and support our student- athletes and facilities.”

“I generally like to be in the background and was surprised when they told me of the award,” Harris said. “I generally just try to give advice when asked and have helped the school, when needed, improve their own fields.”

Harris has served nearly 12 years as the parks director for the City of Vienna and is responsible for maintaining and operating the city’s parks and green areas. He was instrumental in helping OVU secure back-to-back three-year bids in hosting the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Softball Championship beginning in 2002. The three-day tournament takes place the first weekend in May and attracts 15 teams from throughout the state, with approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people in attendance.

“This was a great honor,” Harris said. “I knew Cliff personally and had great respect for him. I know he cared a lot for Ohio Valley University and did as much as he could to support them, especially when it came to athletics.”

A local resident and long-time supporter of Ohio Valley University athletics, Cliff Butterfield loved volunteering his time for OVU. He would work the concessions and ticket gate, and contributed many long hours toward the renovation of the Snyder Activity Center, the home of the OVU Fighting Scots basketball program.

Ohio Valley University is a proud member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and competes in the NCAA Division II. The university offers men's baseball, basketball, cross country, golf and soccer, as well as women's basketball, softball, cross country, soccer, volleyball and golf.

To learn more about OVU visit www.ovu.edu.