HAMILTON – On Monday, former Colgate men's basketball player Bob Adams '76 was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association during the 80th All-Metropolitan Haggerty Awards Dinner.

The Haggerty Dinner is the longest running college basketball awards program conducted by a media group in the United States.

Adams lettered in basketball for Colgate through the 1974-76 seasons under head coach Bill Vesp. The economics major was named to the All-ECAC First Team as a senior. After playing professionally for four years in France, he secured a law degree from Pace University in 1986.

Following in his father Bill's footsteps, Adams began refereeing in 1982 and has become a distinguished and well-respected official throughout his many years. His was the first referee to be honored by this prestigious group since Tim Higgins in 2001.

Along with officiating basketball, Adams is currently a full-time arbitrator and mediator with National Arbitration and Mediation Services.

Adams' officiating resume includes affiliations with seven conferences: America East, Big East, Colonial, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Northeast and Patriot. He has been called on to referee in nine NCAA Tournaments and at the NIT Finals.

A native of Carle Place, N.Y., Adams and his wife, Sue – a former high school basketball coach – live in White Plains, N.Y. They have three children.

For more information about the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association, contact Chuck Stogel at chstogel@aol.com.