ELY — Paul McDonald, of Ely, will be honored this Saturday at the state boys basketball tournament for his long service to high school officiating in Minnesota.
McDonald is one of nine recipients of the 2026 Distinguished Service Award presented by the Minnesota State High School League. The honorees will be recognized during halftime of the Class AA championship game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
The league says McDonald spent 35 years as a registered MSHSL official and has remained active in supporting officiating in northeastern Minnesota even after stepping away from on-court duties two years ago.
A longtime member of the Range Coaches and Officials Association, McDonald served in a leadership role for more than three decades, including 16 years on the executive committee. He helped build mentoring efforts and officiating improvement programs in the region and continues to serve as a football regional coordinator and basketball observer.
“All of these award winners are great officials, but more importantly, they have given so much to their Association members through mentorship and training, thus benefiting Minnesota State High School League member schools and participants,” said Jason Nickleby, who oversees the league’s officiating programs.
For those who worked alongside him, McDonald’s impact has extended well beyond the games themselves.
“He taught me not only how to prepare for success and treat the job with professionalism, but also how to treat and communicate with all people involved with the game,” said Kyle Lamppa, a fellow football and basketball official. “His communication skills with coaches, players, and administrators are second-to-none. Relationship building is truly his superpower, and I’m grateful to have learned that from him.”
McDonald retired from active officiating in 2024 after a 35-year career that included work in both football and basketball. At the time, he said his motivation had always been rooted in giving back to the games that shaped his life.
“My whole thing was to give back to the games that were good to me,” McDonald said. “Athletics and education have been my life and it feels good to give back.”
His career included officiating assignments at seven state football tournaments, including two championship games, as well as 22 state basketball tournaments and four state title games.
Even in retirement, McDonald made clear he wasn’t stepping away entirely, shifting instead into mentoring and evaluation roles to help develop the next generation of officials.
“I’m going to move into an observing role where I will be watching and helping officials with their craft,” he said at the time. “And I’ll be able to mentor younger officials.”
That continued commitment is a big part of what the MSHSL is recognizing this weekend, honoring not just the years McDonald spent on the court and field, but the lasting influence he has had on officiating across northeastern Minnesota.