BANGOR, Maine — The countdown is on for the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame (MBHOF) second annual induction ceremony set for Aug. 23 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Leading up to the August event the MBHOF will share information on the important role each inductee has in Maine’s rich basketball tradition.
Inductees from eastern and northern Maine are David Drinon, Wayne Champeon, Peter Kelley, Steve Condon, Keith Mahaney, John Norris, John Edes and Peter Webb. Two of those inductees have ties to Houlton.
Peter Webb
From the small Aroostook County town of Houlton to the international scene in Germany, Canada and Italy, Peter A. Webb has dedicated his time for over five decades to the betterment of officiating at every level of the game.
As an International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) certified rules interpreter for 46 years, he is the premier resource for basketball rules and basketball officiating. Webb served as IAABO president (2001-02) and spent 13 years on the IAABO executive committee. Since 2004 he has been IAABO worldwide rules interpreter and coordinator.
Webb is also Maine’s Basketball Commissioner, a position he has held for 25 years.
He was assistant commissioner for 13 years before taking over the top spot.
His love for basketball, and baseball, began in his youth up north. A four-year varsity player in both sports for the Houlton Shiretowners, Webb was named to the 1956 Class L Eastern Maine All-Tournament second team and a honorable mention selection for the All-State team.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Ricker College in Houlton in 1960. He was a four-year player in both basketball and baseball for the Bulldogs.
Webb received his master’s degree in education administration from the University of Maine in 1976. He was a teacher for four years and then became a public school principal for 22 years.
Webb’s game officiating numbers are staggering. He has worked more than 2,200 basketball games, including high school, college and the pros. He has umpired over 1,000 baseball games, including high school, college, American Legion and semi-pro games in Maine and New Brunswick. And, he has conducted more than 600 officiating clinics, in 24 states plus in venues all over the world.
Awards and honors for Webb include the National Distinguished Award from NIAA, the National Distinguished Official Award from NFOA, the IAABO Dr. Phil Fox Award for Outstanding Contribution, the Northern Maine IAABO Distinguished Service Award, the Eastern Maine IAABO Jim DiFrederico Award and the MPA Larry Labrie Outstanding Service Award.
In 2002, Webb was inducted into the IAABO Hall of Fame and Lifetime Membership. In 2006, he was inducted into both the National Federation of High School Associations Hall of Fame and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. In 2014, he was inducted into the MPA Hall of Excellence.
And now, in 2015, Webb enters Maine’s new Basketball Hall of Fame. He resides in Stetson with his wife, Marie. They have four children, Peter Jr., Kyle, Elizabeth and Michael.
Peter Kelley
Peter Kelley was born in Houlton and moved to Caribou at the end of his sixth grade year. During his three years at Caribou High School, Kelley was a two-time selection to the Bangor Daily News All-Maine boys’ basketball team, first team in 1957 and 1958. As a freshman on the varsity Kelley averaged 24 points per game, 27 ppg. as a sophomore, and 28 ppg as a junior. He scored 56 points against rival Presque Isle and was selected to the 1957 and 1958 Maine Class LL All-tournament Teams.
Kelley spent his senior season at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N. H. He starred on the basketball team, setting eleven school records, including a 33 point per game average. He scored over 2,200 points in his high school career.
After high school, Kelley attended Harvard College where he was a member of the varsity three years, earning All-Ivy Honors for two years. He attended Boston College in pursuit of his law degree and returned to Maine to work for Rep. William Hathaway. At this time he transferred to American University Law School in Washington D. C., graduating in 1966.
Kelley’s political career continued as he worked for Senator Muskie’s vice presidential campaign. At 29 years of age, he was elected to the Maine House. In 1972 Kelley was elected to the Maine Senate. He lost to George Mitchell for governor in 1974.
Kelley was elected to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. He is a partner in the law firm of Kelley & Leger Law Offices in Caribou. He and his wife Marcia share four children, Christopher, Jason, Alexander and Lesley.
Other inductees hailing from The County are Keith Mahaney of Bangor, a 1951 graduate of Fort Fairfield High School, and Steve Condon of Presque Isle, a graduate of Presque Isle High School.
