‘Scrubby’ Olson Memorial Trophy Established By The Post-Journal

The Sherwood “Scrubby” Olson Memorial basketball trophy has been established under the sponsorship of The Post-Journal, officials of the newspaper have announced.

The award will go to the area scoring champion in memory of the long-time Post-Journal sports reporter who died last September.

Area scoring records have been maintained by The Post-Journal for more than 25 years, but no award has been presented to the scoring champion in the past.

There will be no change in policy for the Olson Memorial award competition. The winner will simply be the scoring leader on the basis of all regularly scheduled games played. Playoff contests will not count because boys competing in the playoffs would have the advantage from a standpoint of games played.

The winner will be the player with the highest per game average, but he must have competed in at least 80 per cent of his school’s scheduled contests.

The attractive 27-inch trophy will not be a rotating award. It will be presented to the scoring champ on a permanent basis, being replaced by a new trophy for the following year’s competition.

Scores as reported to The Post-Journal will be considered official.

Olson, one of the area’s most enthusiastic supporters of high school sports, covered the Jamestown-at-Dunkirk football game for The Post-Journal the night of Sept. 14. He returned to the office after the game, wrote his story and departed for home. He died a few hours later.

Scrubby, 48, had worked as a “call-in” sports scribe for 20 years. His beat was Jamestown High School sports, major track meets and golf.

A life-long resident of Jamestown, he played varsity basketball for JHS and in later years was employed by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities while serving The Post-Journal on a part-time basis.

“I’m very pleased. This is really wonderful and I know Scrubby would be happy to know the trophy will bring thrills to the youngsters who earn it,” Olson’s widow, Mary, 101 Johnson St., said when told the trophy was being established.

Mrs. Olson added she will personally continue the annual Orvy awards, donated to outstanding Jamestown High School basketball players by her husband for years in honor of his late brother, Orville, who died several years ago.

The idea for The Post-Journal’s award originated with Terry Heslink, a P-J night sports staffer, who worked with Olson for several years.