RACINE, Wis. — American Specialty Insurance (ASI) of Fort Wayne, Ind. has been named the recipient of the Mel Narol Medallion for 2017. The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) board of directors selected ASI and Drew Smith, the company’s president, who will receive the honor Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the Celebrate Officiating Gala. The Gala serves as the climax to the NASO Sports Officiating Summit, which this year is being held in Louisville, Ky.
ASI is the insurance provider to NASO. The company developed policies that meet the unique coverage sports officials need. Additionally, ASI as an entity and Smith individually have provided invaluable assistance to NASO with knowledge of the insurance industry and developing strategies most beneficial to members and the association.
“It has been such a pleasure for us at NASO to watch Drew grow and progress from a member of the ASI team to the leader of that company,” said Barry Mano, NASO president. “All along the way Drew has never forgotten his roots, and a part of those roots is his support for NASO and its 22,000 members.
”Drew is not only in the insurance business, he has become a part of our endeavor in officiating,” Mano added. “His willingness to think creatively and be aggressive in support of sports officials is with few parallels in the business world. Each previous recipient of the Mel Narol Medallion award has gone well beyond what reason would expect in supporting NASO. ASI and Drew have and continue to do just that.”
The Mel Narol Medallion recognizes an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the betterment of NASO. Contributions might include, but are not limited to, organizational leadership, education and training, promotion of officiating and NASO and sponsorship.
The Medallion Award was created in 2000 to “recognize an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the betterment of sports officials and the officiating profession.” Mel Narol, longtime officiating legal advocate and NASO leader, received the award posthumously in 2003 and the award was then renamed to honor him. In 2007, the criteria were changed to emphasize contributions to NASO.
Contact: Dave Simon
Associate Editor
Referee Magazine/National Association of Sports Officials
dsimon@referee.com
The National Association of Sports Officials is the world’s largest organization for sports officials at every level and all sports. More than 29,000 sports officials from around the world belong to NASO, enjoying member benefits and supporting an organization that advocates for sports officials and that helps them maintain the highest level of officiating skills.
