Lynwood McHatten, known for his many years involved in education and basketball officiating, is representing the northern region, along with Roger Shaw of Mars Hill, as the newest inductees into the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors.
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Lynwood McHatten, a long-time basketball official and former guidance counselor and coach at CHS, made the Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors.
This honor is presented to men and women for their extraordinary commitment and work behind the scenes, both academically and athletically. Both McHatten and Shaw will officially be inducted at the Maine Sports Legends Annual Banquet at the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville Oct. 11.
McHatten, a native of Ashland, is a veteran educator, coach and basketball official in Aroostook County.
He taught at Masardis Central School and Ashland Community High School from 1967 to 1977. He then moved to Caribou High School, where he was a guidance counselor for 16 years. Since 1993, he has held the position of guidance director at Ashland Community High School.
Dick Durost, Executive Director in the Maine Principal’s Association, says, “Lyn is a highly respected guidance director who has served all the students in Caribou and presently Ashland extremely well for decades.”
Not only do college-bound students benefit from McHatten’s guidance, but also alternative schools as he is the chairman of the board of directors for the Carleton Project, which governs alternative education.
As an athlete, McHatten played basketball and baseball in high school and college. During his high school years he played in the Maine/New Brunswick League, equivalent of the American Legion today.
“Although a gifted athlete”, says his brother, Cliff McHatten, “his greatest gift was his ability to coach young athletes. He coached several teams to nearly perfect records and had a true gift for bringing the best out of his players in and off the field. He had high expectations for his players and modeled hard work, character and the importance of ‘team play’ for success.”
From 1969 to 1975, he coached varsity baseball at Ashland High School and from 1979 to 1986 coached JV baseball at Caribou High School. He had outstanding human relations with students, parents, athlete’s coaches and school administrators throughout these years.
In 1974, McHatten found a new way to continue promoting his loyalty to young student athletes by becoming an IAABO Board 150 basketball official. He has always modeled dependability, sound character, good judgment and professionalism in every game he has officiated.
Matt McHatten, his son, said, “Dad always prided himself in keeping up with the athletes by being in excellent physical condition. I remember well his preparation leading up to the basketball season which included knowing all the new rules and working out as he does as a hobby anyway, to keep himself in top physical shape. Both were important to upholding his commitment to professionalism once he stepped foot on the basketball floors of Arooostook County.”
Durost added, “Lyn has the perfect temperament for handling athletes, coaches and fans at regular season games or tournament games. That’s why he’s such an outstanding official.”
McHatten became the sub-varsity IAABO Board 150 game assignor in 1987 and in 1989 to the present date his is the varsity assignor. John Plourde, a close friend and colleague basketball official says, “Lyn took the varsity assignor’s role in 1989 with deep understanding of the nuances associated with ‘County’ basketball, a sense of fairness to his fellow officials and a commitment to excellence with regard to the game he loves.”
A fellow Aroostook County official, John Stephenson, tells how he feels about Lyn’s assignor position. “He truly cares about the game of basketball, and we see that in the way he assigns officials. For over 20 years, Lyn takes into consideration the competitiveness of the teams playing, the experience of the officials and the atmosphere of the venue. By protecting officials not to reach above their abilities, he ultimately helps them become better officials through experience. Assigning basketball officials is a tough job that Lyn does extremely well.”
In the community Lyn continues his commitment through a number of activities and organizations: Deaconate Chair of his church, Board of Directors and President of Northwood Manor (assisted living facility), Chairman of Carlton Project Alternative School and Mentor-Coach of MELMAC Education Foundation that gives grants to schools. He oversees the grants at Katahdin and Southern Aroostook schools.
“The ‘Silver Fox’ has been roaming the hardwood floors for over four decades and he still believes that every game deserves the same effort, enthusiasm and expertise,” Plourde said. “He has never lost sight that the game is truly for the student athlete, which is his legacy.”
With any free time, McHatten likes to read, exercise, jog and spend time with family and friends. He is also a lifelong fan of Major League Baseball and follows the Red Sox and Atlanta Braves closely. McHatten has a grown son, Matt of Mapleton, and a daughter, Marcey of Scarborough, as well as two granddaughters, Shaye and Paige McHatten of Mapleton.
