Warsaw Community High School basketball coach Doug Ogle was recently the awarded the L.N. “Pete” Thorn Award by the Warsaw Rotary Club Friday.
The L.N. “Pete” Thorn Award is given by the Rotary Club of Warsaw to the man or woman who best exemplifies the high qualities and principles of Pete Thorn, as to dedication to goals, citizenship, concern for youth, excellence in sportsmanship and “Service Above Self.”
Thorn was a graduate of Wabash College (lettering in 4 sports for four years) who moved to Warsaw in the 1920’s to work for the Warsaw Schools.
He was instrumental in the founding of Baker Youth Club and was active in the community in various positions being named the first Warsaw Man of the Year in 1959. Thorn was a long time member of the Warsaw Rotary Club until his death in 1990.
Ogle, the 29th recipient of the Thorn Award, graduated from Clinton Central High School in Michigantown in 1980 and has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University and a master’s degree in Secondary School Administration from Indiana University.
He has taught for 27 years in the Warsaw School District currently teaching Algebra.
He has had various coaching experiences with 2011 being his 10th year as coach for the Warsaw Tigers with a record of 138-65.
“Doug is always striving to see how youth and students can improve and compete in athletics and life,” Director of Baker Youth Club Tracy Furnivall said. “He has been a great inspiration to many young people who have come through our doors.”
Ogle and his wife, Melissa, reside in Warsaw and have three daughters, Courtney, Cendall and Creigh. He also considers his friendship with the late John Wooden, UCLA Basketball Coach, one of the highlights of his life.
A bust of Lee Norman “Pete” Thorn is housed in the Baker Youth Club in Warsaw. The statue was sculpted by Fred W. Olds, commissioned by the Warsaw Rotary and unveiled on June 24, 1980.
For more information on the go to www.warsawrotary.com and click on the history tab.
