Athletic director Richard Billingsley received the CIF Champion of Character award Monday, Sept. 24 at the Grand Long Beach Events Center.

This award is given annually to five student athletes, five coaches and five athletic administrators from 565 public and private high schools in the Southern Section who display exceptional character.

“Coach Billingsley definitely fits that bill,” Assistant Principal Jason Meskis said. “He’s got great integrity, works hard, [and] wants to make sure all our student athletes have great behavior on and off the field.”

Billingsley sits on three CIF executive committees: Executive, Football Advisory, and Public/Private. He has worked at Oak Park High School for 27 years. He has coached football for 40 years and soccer for 17. He was nominated for the award by former OPHS athletic director Ann Pettit, who received the award last year.

Billingsley said he was very proud and grateful to receive this distinction.

“I was of course extremely honored,” Billingsley said. “Coaching all these years … it was quite an honor, I appreciate the effort put in by all the people, and I had to thank a number of people because I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.”

Many Oak Park faculty members accompanied Billingsley to the event: Pettit, Meskis, co-athletic director Tim Chevalier, Coach Aaron Shaw, English teacher Kathleen Leggett, girls’ soccer coach Kathryn Klamecki, former athletic secretary Sterling, Student Services Bookkeeper Sandra Iwanoff, athletic trainer Brenda Pasqua, geography teacher Kimberlee Galbreath, English teacher Kathleen Bowman and drama teacher Allan Hunt.

“It was important to support him and show our gratitude to him,” Chevalier wrote to the Talon. “He has been a leader amongst athletic directors in southern California, and it was important for him to be recognized as such.”

Bowman commented on the considerable attendance of past and present Oak Park staff at the CIF dinner.

“I think it’s important that we care about and show appreciation for people who exemplify good character and do the right thing rather than the easy thing,” Bowman said.