Ross Childs of Michigan is Named Lamoriello Award Winner
AHCA to recognize Childs at Frozen Four Luncheon on Friday in Detroit
The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) will present the 2020 Lou Lamoriello Award to former University of Michigan hockey player Ross Childs during this year's NCAA Men' s Division I Frozen Four weekend in Detroit. Named after the former Providence College player, coach and athletic director, this award recognizes a former college hockey player or coach who goes on to success in a professional career, in or outside of athletics. It was created in 2004 by a group of retired NCAA men's hockey coaches to honor their friend and peer, Lou Lamoriello.
Childs is a member of the Michigan Class of 1959, having played for coaches Vic Heyliger and Al Renfrew. A native of Owen Sound, Ontario, Childs played from 1956-1957 through 1958-1959. He played goal in his first two seasons before switching to forward in his senior year. During his sophomore season, he backstopped Michigan to victories in twelve of their last thirteen games to clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament. He had the lowest goals-against average in the conference.
One of his most memorable experiences at Michigan was playing a period against a Russian team at Detroit's Olympia Stadium, stopping fifteen shots with the score tied 1-1. He came to the U.S. in 1955 to earn an engineering degree at the University of Michigan. He then worked on his postgraduate studies included courses in engineering, business administration, and public administration at U-M and Wayne State University in Detroit.
Upon completion of his studies, he immediately took employment as a County Engineer with Washtenaw County. He continued in various positions with Washtenaw County and was appointed County Administrator in January of 1970. He left county government and spent three years in the transportation industry as the Assistant General Manager, Acting General Manager and Director of Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority. After leaving the Washtenaw County area, Childs became the County Administrator for Grand Traverse County in 1976, holing the position until 2002.
Childs retired from his position as the County Administrator for Grand Traverse County in January 2002, having served in that position since 1976. While employed by the county, Grand Traverse County became one of the fastest-growing counties in the state and received recognition in many areas of public service on behalf of its employees. He was an administrator who recognized that being in charge of a diverse and growing county required close coordination with local public and private organizations.
Even after retiring, Childs' work as a public servant continues to this day. He was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Northwestern Michigan College in September 2001 to fill a term vacancy and was elected to a six-year term on the NMC Board of Trustees in 2002, 2008, and 2014.
With everything Childs had going on in Travese City, hockey remained in his blood. He coached the first Travese City Central High School team then stayed behind the bench coaching travel teams in the area. Even with 12 broken or replaced bones in his body and 137 stitches in his face, all from former athletic endeavors, Childs remains an advocate for all sports, especially U-M Athletics and specifically Wolverine hockey.
The luncheon is slated for Friday, April 10, at 12:30 p.m. at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center: 400 Renaissance Dr W, Detroit, MI 48243. Cost of the luncheon is $50, payable to the AHCA. Anyone interested in attending should contact Bruce Delventhal at bflyfish@earthlink.net
| Recipients of the Lou Lamoriello Award | |
| 2004 | Lou Lamoriello, Providence (Coaching, Athletic Administration) |
| 2005 | Tom "Red" Martin, Boston College (Communications, Philanthropy) |
| 2006 | John Mayasich, Minnesota (Communications) |
| 2007 | Dave Metzen, Minnesota (Education) |
| 2008 | Tom Coakley, Brown (Military Service) |
| 2009 | Laing Kennedy, Cornell (Athletic Administration) |
| 2010 | Dr. Michael Collins, Notre Dame (Medicine) |
| 2014 | Joe Battista, Penn State (Coaching, Athletic Development) |
| 2015 | Bob White, Bowdoin College (Business) |
| 2016 | General Mark Milley, Princeton (Military Service) |
| 2017 | Richmond "Chip" Kenyon, Middlebury College (Business) |
| 2018 | Justin Kaufenberg, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Business) |
| 2019 | John "Jocko" McLennan, Clarkson University |
| 2019 | Ross Childs, Michigan |
