Boston College Athletics
Lawless Earns McElroy Award At Soccer's Annual Banquet
April 24, 2009 | Men's Soccer
April 24, 2009
Boston College junior goalkeeper Michael Lawless has been named the 26th recipient of the prestigious Tom McElroy Award, according to an announcement made at the program's annual awards banquet held on Friday, April 17, 2009.
The McElroy Award is a scholarship presented annually to the Boston College soccer student-athlete who best exemplifies the qualities that made Tom such a special person.
Lawless, a junior physics major, was recently selected a Dean's Scholar of the College of Arts & Sciences.
"Michael is an outstanding young man. He is like Tom in many ways," said Tom McElroy, Sr., just prior to announcing Lawless as this year's recipient. "He treats others with respect, is reliable, loyal to his team, self disciplined, helps people in need, and always represents Boston College in the best light."
Tom McElroy, Jr., a goalkeeper, set school records for most games played (43), most shutouts in a season (10), most career shutouts (20) and lowest career goals against average (1.05). He was diagnosed with cancer in January 1979, played his senior season through treatments and recuperation and guided Boston College to a 3-1 victory over Bridgeport in ECAC Championship on Nov. 23, 1980. The victory marked the Eagles' first soccer championship.
Tom McElroy succumbed to cancer on July 17, 1981. He was 22 years old.
An endowed scholarship that carries his name was created by the McElroy family on Nov. 16, 1983. The initial purpose of the scholarship was to provide tuition assistance to a member of the men's soccer team. However, the success of the scholarship has allowed Boston College to distribute financial assistance to student-athletes in other sports. Since its inception, 92 student-athletes have received tuition assistance from the scholarship. Today, it is the No. 1 athletic memorial scholarship at BC. Its value exceeds $1.5 million.
Tom McElroy was inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame on Oct. 23, 1987. He was the first men's soccer player to earn the distinction.
The annual McElroy Golf Classic, held at Spring Valley Country Club in Sharon, Mass., is scheduled for August 31, 2009. Proceeds benefit the Tom McElroy Fund and the Boston College soccer community.
Thomas McElroy Award Winners
(Presented to the Boston College men's soccer player who best exemplifies the qualities that made Tom such a special person)
1984 Ed Capobianco
1985 David Beltramini
1986 Scott Jones
1987 Ara Barsamian
1988 Stephen McNear
1989 Stuart Tallmadge
1990 Andrew Sage
1991 Brendan McCarthy
1992 Brian Boussy
1993 Steve Johnson
1994 Carlos Casas
1995 Marc Bala
1996 Daryl Gioffre
1997 Matt Dunn
1998 Keith McDonald
1999 Paul Cornoni
2000 Chris Hamblin
2001 Chris Cleary
2002 Casey Schmidt
2003 Paul Chase
2004 Bill Arnault
2005 Sam Brill
2006 Issey Maholo
2007 Chris Brown
2008 Stephen Hepburn
2009 Michael Lawless
