Referee Cranmer honored by IAABO
"It's quite an honor - only four members received the honor this year - from all over the country," Cranmer said.
BY SHAWN VARGO THE LEADER

SHAWN VARGO/THE LEADER Ivan Cranmer shows off his IAABO Life Member ring, which he received in Mystic, Connecticut.

SAVONA - Ivan Cranmer refereed his first basketball game in 1958. He joined the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials in 1966. In 2007, Cranmer was awarded the IAABO's Life Membership.

"It's quite an honor - only four members received the honor this year - from all over the country," Cranmer said.

The official ceremony was held in Mystic, Connecticut in April.

"There were 300 people at the ceremony," Cranmer said. "There were about 30 people from our area."

Cranmer was honored for 41 years of service by the IAABO. He was joined by Don Abel, a 32- year veteran from Massachusetts, Ra y Gauthier (32 years, Massachusetts) and Henry Hailstock (33 years, District of Columbia).

According to the IAABO, a Life Member award is given annually to IAABO members who undergo a rigorous nomination process - which includes an examination of a member's character and officiating background.

"That's the top award that an official can get. When they only give out four in the entire country is a good indication of how worthy of the award he was," said Prattsburgh boys basketball head coach Jim Burke.

"He was one of the best officials that came out of the area. You never questioned the man's integrity at all.

"As much as I respected him as an official, I respect him more as a person. He's just a great individual," Burke added.

At the ceremony, Cranmer was presented with a Life Ring, which symbolizes a member who has been voted by his peers into Life Membership.

"Things like this happen to everybody else, but not me," Cranmer said.

Cranmer was joined in Mystic by his wife Flora and sons Curtis, Martin and Chris.

"I had been going to the meetings for years and I never dreamed that I would get it," Cranmer said of his honor. "They usually give it to an important person."