Suhr to receive WNY Contributions to Youth Football Award

Photo by Mike Wertman – Niagara Orleans Football Association Commissioner Harold Suhr, right, is congratulated by NOFA Coordinator of Coaches Geno Allport for earning the Contributions to Youth Football Award which will be presented Monday night by the Western New York Amateur Football Alliance.

Football has always been his favorite sport, playing, coaching, even owning a semi-pro team, and for the past three plus decades Harold Suhr of Lyndonville has been very active and involved in giving others, especially youth, the opportunity to enjoy participating in the sport he loves so much.

To be sure promoting and expanding football playing opportunities in this area has been a labor of love for Suhr who over the years has coached youth football in Albion and Hamlin, organized and funded the organization of the Bar/Lyn youth football program and for the past eight years has served as commissioner of the Niagara Orleans Football Association which has football and cheerleading squads in 10 area communities. He also owned, coached and played for the semi-pro Lyndonville Tigers team which for over a decade provided opportunities for former high school and college players to continue playing.

His volunteer efforts over the past 30 plus years in coaching and organizing area youth football teams and programs has earned Suhr the Contributions to Youth Football Award which will be presented to him by the Western New York Amateur Football Alliance at its annual Scholar-Athlete Recognition Dinner Monday night.

“I was dumbfounded when they told me I was to receive it,” said Suhr who has also served as a volunteer youth baseball and basketball official and as a volunteer wrestling coach. “I’ve always wanted to give kids a chance to play, to give everybody the opportunity to play and to play at the next level,” he added.

“Harold is always willing to do whatever needed when we ask at the NOFA level,” said NOFA Coordinator of Coahes Geno Allport who will be presenting the award. “And this is all 100% volunteer which also at most times is a thankless job but the only thanks he needs is seeing about 2,000 kids happy every weekend in the fall out playing football and cheerleading. Being selected for this award is a well deserving honor for him and his contributions to youth football.”