Hall of Fame
Mr. Bernard "Putt" LaMay was involved in New York high school athletics as an administrator and coach for 34 years. He served the NYSPHSAA in three different decades, highlighted by a term as President of the Association from 1978-80 following a term as Vice President from 1976-78. Previously he was a member of the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee.
LaMay's 34 years as a high school administrator and coach were spent at Fort Edward, Saratoga, and finally Glens Falls high schools. At Glens Falls, he spent 25 years as Director of Physical Education and Athletics, and as the head coach of basketball, football, golf, and track programs compiling several League and Section II championships across all four sports. In 1961, LaMay began his service beyond coaching when he became a member of the Section II Executive Committee. He continued to serve that committee until 1987.
LaMay is widely recognized as being responsible for securing the Glens Falls Civic Center as the site of the NYSPHSAA Boys Basketball Championships and the NYS Federation Basketball Championships. After a 50-year absence, the boys state tournament was reinstituted in 1978 with the first three years of the tournament held at the War Memorial in Rochester. LaMay was instrumental in helping Glens Falls put together a winning bid for the state championships to land in Glens Falls in 1981. This year the tournament concluded its 25th anniversary there.
LaMay has been honored by various organizations for his contributions toward high school athletics. He was inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, the Green Mountain College Hall of Fame in 1989, the Glens Falls Heritage Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, and he received the New York State Coaches Chapter 2 National Football Hall of Fame Award in 1993. LaMay holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College and a Masters degree from SUNY Albany.