McMahon award recipient chosen

From staff reports

Brayden Crocker, a junior at Oil City High School, is this year’s recipient of the annual Cole McMahon “Heart of Gold” Memorial Award.

He is the son of Mike and Missy Crocker of Oakland Township.

The award is presented every year to an Oil City junior in honor of McMahon, a 2001 Oil City graduate who died in a car accident in October 2006 while on his way to his teaching assignment at Fort LeBoeuf High School in Waterford.

McMahon’s family, Malachy, Dolly and Logan McMahon, receive input from Oil City teachers, administrators and coaches every year to choose the recipient of the award.

The student who is nominated must exemplify the work ethic and dedication that Cole McMahon possessed and demonstrated as a student, athlete, coach and educator.

Brayden Crocker will receive a free one-year membership to the Oil City YMCA and his name will be placed on the “Heart of Gold” plaque on display at the YMCA.

Recently, the YMCA initiated a Cole McMahon “Heart of Gold” Scholarship Award Fund that benefits youth/adult memberships and programming at the YMCA. Anyone interested in donating to the fund can contact the YMCA at (814) 677-3000.

Bryan Schwab, a health and physical education teacher at Oil City School District who is now retired, initiated the award with assistance from Butch Huey, Pat Madden and Harry Dilley Jr.