Photo Credit: NAYS
Al “Hondo” Handy had only been with the Ocean City (Md.) Recreation and Parks Department for two months when he was asked to coach the department’s all-star team in a basketball tournament in nearby Salisbury.
At the time, he wasn’t coaching—he had started working at the department midway through the season—but he was refereeing games and impressed everyone with his knowledge and demeanor with the kids. After weeks of practice, Handy was sure his team was ready to compete—until the players arrived in Salisbury.
“When our players walked in and saw this large gymnasium with lots of seating for the spectators, I knew we were in trouble,” recalls Handy, now in his 28^(th) year as the recreation supervisor. “Our facility in Ocean City at that time was really small and had very little seating, and this facility was three times as large.”