Aug. 28, 2014 RENO, Nev. - Jim Gardner and Brian Whalen are the inaugural winners of Nevada's Silver and Blue Service Awards, the Wolf Pack athletics department announced today.
The Silver and Blue Service Award honors individuals who have volunteered their time and efforts in all support areas to help Wolf Pack Athletics over the years. Any person who has volunteered in any capacity is eligible for this award.
A member of the Wolf Pack baseball and boxing team in the 1950s, Gardner volunteered as the official timekeeper at Nevada basketball games for over 32 years. The former president and chief executive officer of Gardner Engineering and Gardner Mechanical Services, he is a longtime donor to the University of Nevada and has held his basketball and football season tickets for more than 35 years.
Whalen played on the Nevada baseball and basketball teams in the 1950s and went on to spend 34 years volunteering his time as the scoreboard operator at Wolf Pack basketball games. Whalen worked in facility services on campus for 38 years, including 22 years as a vice president. A longtime donor and supporter of the University and Wolf Pack Athletics, he was instrumental in the construction of additional restroom and elevator facilities at Mackay Stadium.
"We're fortunate to have a number of volunteers to who devote countless hours to helping our program," athletics director Doug Knuth said. "Jim and Brian have been advocates and supporters of Wolf Pack athletics for decades and we're pleased to have the opportunity to honor them with this award."
The inaugural Silver and Blue Service Awards will be presented as part of Nevada's Hall of Fame Weekend Sept. 4-5.
The Hall of Fame Dinner is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4 in the Expo Room at the Silver Legacy. Tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased by calling (775) 682-6901.
