The memory of a youngster who loved football lives on in an award honoring others for the fine qualities that he displayed.
On Oct. 4 Garrett Barnaby received the Jake Gobl Memorial Award for 2009. The award goes to a sixth grade Girard Youth football player who has shown an ongoing dedication to good sportsmanship, discipline and respect for coaches and teammates.
Garrett said he was “surprised and sort of happy” when he received the award at the youth football game during the Girard homecoming weekend. He was nominated by the 2009 coaching staff, including Dr. Adam Paoni, Kyle Bailey, Dennis Davied and Pat Damman.
Presenting the award was Dan Gobl, father of Jacob Gobl, a Girard Middle School sixth grade student who died from injuries suffered on Sept. 19, 2006, when he was riding his bike home from school and was struck by a van in front of the First National Bank by the Girard square.
“I started playing football when I was in third grade, and played flag football before that,” Garrett said. “I also like to play baseball and a little basketball.”
The straight A student plays trombone in the school band. He also enjoys hunting, snowboarding and other winter activities.
“I know I’m biased because he’s my son, but Garrett is special,” said his mother, Michele Barnaby, Girard.
While it’s still early for him to be thinking about his adult career, Garrett is good in math and likes working with maps. “I think I might like to be a surveyor,” he said.
GIRARD —
