MANSFIELD — Superintendent Teresa Murphy and Athletic Director are pleased to announce that longtime district volunteer Tom Faria has received a special recognition from the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association.
The MSSADA Executive Board notified the district on Feb. 10 that Faria had been selected as the District 7 recipient of the Joao Rodrigues Distinguished Service Award.
The award is presented annually to an individual or business in each athletic district who has distinguished themselves in volunteering their services to one or more schools in their district.
Faria has been volunteering as the play-by-play announcer for Mansfield High School football games for over three decades, having called almost 400 games. In his three decades announcing games he has frequently called winning seasons for the Hornets program, including multiple state titles.
A Mansfield native, Faria was a three-sport athlete during his time at MHS before graduating in 1974. In addition to his work calling football games, he has also announced hundreds of boys and girls basketball games for Mansfield Cable Access.
Faria is one of the founders of the Mansfield Football Hall of Fame, and has served on the selection committee for three decades.
Other highlights of Faria’s many years of volunteering in Mansfield include:
- Expanded Mansfield Hall of Fame to include field hockey, boys and girls soccer and boys and girls basketball, with a plan to include all sports by 2022.
- Initiated an award known as the Legends of Women’s Sports to recognize outstanding Mansfield female student-athletes before Title IX legislation increased opportunities for girls.
- Volunteered as a youth football coach for Pop Warner, a youth basketball coach for the Mansfield Youth Basketball Association and a youth baseball coach for the Mansfield Youth Baseball Association.
The Joao Rodrigues Distinguished Service Awards will be presented at the annual MSSADA awards banquet on Thursday, March 31 in Hyannis. The event will include a reception, banquet and awards ceremony.
“Tom is highly respected throughout the Hockomock League for his first-class announcing of football and basketball games. He recognizes the efforts and accomplishments of all the players involved in the game, including the home town Hornets as well as our visitors from around the league,” Athletic Director Redding said. “In the community, Tom is a living legend for his contributions on a volunteer basis to youth football, youth basketball and youth baseball, as well as his contributions to the high school athletic program. From announcing games for decades and serving as the master of ceremonies at every Mansfield Hall of Fame induction, Tom’s name is synonymous with Mansfield pride and dedication.”
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