On a May day in 1975, more than 10,000 fans gathered to watch the NCAA championship lacrosse game in which the University of Maryland men's team triumphed in a record-setting win.
The team's 20-13 victory over Navy marked its second tournament crown in three years. Tom Murray, of Timonium, was a starting defenseman on both the 1975 and 1973 teams.
During its 40th reunion last spring, the team applauded its most recent accomplishment — raising the money to establish a $50,000 lacrosse scholarship, driven by the efforts of the team's former goalie and tri-captain, Gary Niels.
At that gathering, the president of the University of Maryland and Kevin Anderson, its athletic director, realized that these dedicated players had not received what has since become a customary award to tournament-winning teams — a championship ring.
On April 24, nearly 41 years after the University of Maryland men's lacrosse team captured the NCAA tournament title, Tom Murray was among those honored by the schools' athletic department. Twenty-one of the 1975 team's 30 players and three of its five coaches attended the ring ceremony, which took place at the university's stadium.
After college Tom continued to excel as an athlete, playing on both Master's and Grand Master's Club lacrosse teams until a few years ago. More important, Tom's skill and passion for the game has been a gift to the hundreds of youth athletes he has coached on area recreation council teams. Tom is also a former small-business owner. He and his wife, Andrea, have two children, Tommy and Lauren.
In 1955, Burt Knapp spotted Elaine Sammis at a dance held at Montebello Elementary School. A few months later, Burt approached Elaine in his Polytechnic Institute's gym, where her Eastern High School class had come to practice its graduation; her eyes attracted him, he said, and soon after that meeting he told her that they would one day get married. The couple dated, became engaged, and were married six months later. On April 9, Harry and Elaine celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to this couple, who have made a home in Lutherville for 40 years. They are the parents of Brian, who lives in Alexandria, Va. and Brenda Lee, a Timonium resident. They are also grandparents to Graham, Justin, and Brooke.
To celebrate their remarkable achievement, their son arranged for them to take a weekend getaway to Bedford Springs Resort, in Pennsylvania. While there, Burt and Elaine visited the nearby Flight 93 National Memorial.
Burt has some advice for young couples. He says that Elaine has "never been wrong in 60 years. That is the secret to a long marriage."