McConnaughhay has been volunteering in a variety of capacities for many years, and his wife Gail has mixed feelings about whether she wants him to slow down.

"My wife sometimes asks, 'How much longer are you going to do all this?'" McConnaughhay said. "Then in the next breath she says, 'but I don't want you home all the time.'"

McConnaughhay probably wouldn't know what to do with himself if he gave up all his lacrosse endeavors. He is a founding member of the Annapolis Youth Lacrosse Association and still serves on its Board of Directors. He has been a member of the Hero's Lacrosse Board of Directors since 1995. He is also a key organizer with the Trojan Lacrosse Club.

McConnaughhay's dedication to local lacrosse will be recognized tomorrow when he receives the Bildy Award for distinguished service. The Bildy is handed out annually by the Bilderback Lacrosse Foundation.

"Jim is a tireless worker who is willing to do whatever it takes for the game with little or no recognition," said Drew Larkin, a founding Director of the Bilderback Foundation. "I think the best thing you can say about Jim is that he never has to be asked to do anything. He is always offering his time and energy and never asks for anything in return."

McConnaughhay will be on hand from dawn till dusk tomorrow to help with the 13th annual Bilderback Day lacrosse festival even though he's not actually part of the operating organization. However, his greatest contribution to the event might come tonight.

"Jim has been kind enough to string all the goals for Bilderback Day," Larkin said.

It takes about a half hour to attach a net to a bare lacrosse cage. McConnaughhay does that 12 times over for each of the goals that are used for Bilderback Day then Hero's Summer League that begins the following week.

McConnaughhay can also be seen lining the fields at Anne Arundel Community College for Hero's games. He also coaches an Open League team for Hero's and has routinely directed all-star squads at Bilderback Day.

For many years, McConnaughhay was an assistant coach at Annapolis High. He now helps his son Dustin coach the Panthers' junior varsity and keeps the scorebook for the varsity.

"I care about kids, I love lacrosse and I enjoy going to games," McConnaughhay said.

For several years now, McConnaughhay has directed a Turkey Shoot, a tournament for middle and high schoolers that is held the Friday after Thanksgiving. He also helps run the Trojan Lacrosse Fall League.

Truth be told, McConnaughhay often has wife Gail and sons Dustin and Bret by his side for most events. Lacrosse is a family affair for the McConnaughhays.

"It's just something we all enjoy and like to do together," Jim said.

McConnaughhay called getting the Bildy a "tremendous honor" and laughed about being chosen by a Board of Directors consisting of Larkin, Drew Whitelock and Milford Marchant.

"I think it's pretty funny that an AYLA guy is getting an award from a bunch of Severna Park Green Hornets guys," McConnaughhay said.

"Seriously, I was never worried about awards or recognition, I'm not out there trying to get noticed. I do all this stuff because I want to see the sport of lacrosse grow and I want to see events organized properly."

McConnaughhay will receive The Bildy following an All-American Demonstration that is always a highlight of Bilderback Day. Men's collegiate stars from Johns Hopkins, Maryland and Princeton will show off their skills and conduct a mini clinic for youngsters.

Bilderback Day begins with the Robbie Hall Pee Wee and Beth Balasic Sticklettes tournaments on the upper fields at AACC.

All-star games for Pee Wee, Midget and Junior level boys and girls will be held during the afternoon at Siegert Field. Anne Arundel County's top high school seniors will cap the festivities by squaring off in the Kevin Reichardt All-Star game.

Chris Heim of STX Lacrosse has donated dozens of gloves, sticks, shoulder pads and lanyards as prizes for youngsters who perform well during the .

Published June 04, 2004, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2004 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.