Reading this week about the athletes and teams honored at the University of Montana’s Robert Lindsay Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet brought back fond memories of the event, and especially the man for whom it’s named.

I was proud to be involved in getting the banquet started while I was working in Grizzly Athletics, and still feel rewarded because of the time I got to spend with Dr. Lindsay during the process.

It was easy to see why he was such an oustanding faculty athletics representative for the school. I have no doubt that he was the best in the Big Sky Conference.

A former athlete himself and still an avid tennis player at the time, Lindsay had that splendid mixture of toughness and compassion, and seemingly was able to wield the correct proportion of each based on the individual and situation involved.

I just flat out liked the man, even though it would have been easy to be intimidated by his knowledge and bearing. He didn’t let that happen. It didn’t take long for me to feel very much at ease around him, and to feel confident that I could say what was on my mind without being drowned in condescension.

Events sometimes come and go, depending on who’s in charge and what other needs might be, especially in an athletics program like UM’s that – in times of always increasing costs and challenges – continues to operate on somewhat of a shoestring.

Congratulations to the powers that be that decided to name the banquet after Lindsay and have made sure it continues to happen every year.

It’s important to continue to point out the academic as well as the athletics successes of UM athletes.

- Bill Schwanke