Val Vander Meer

OTHS Booster Club Founding Member Val Vander Meer was one of the founders of the Ottawa Township High School Booster Club, and although he did not have children at OTHS, was a long time and avid supporter of the school, its students, and its athletic programs. He was also committed to the people of Ottawa and the surrounding community. Through both his position with the local unemployment office and his personal passion, Val Vander Meer was instrumental in helping former students and others find employment in the area, taking a special and individual interest in each one. He was committed to sportsmanship and citizenship, irrespective of school or community affiliation. For many years he attended all of the OTHS athletic events, both home and away. In the early years before buses were commonly utilized to transport athletes to games, he volunteered his services to drive players to away games. In honor of Val Vander Meer, the OTHS Booster club established an annual award to a boy and girl athlete or non-athlete who most exemplifies the high quality and standards of loyalty, dedicated athletic support, sportsmanship, and citizenship that was demonstrated by Val Vander Meer himself.