Recently there appeared a brief item in the Sun Journal noting the death of Nathaniel J. Crowley Sr. in Bangor. Nat Crowley was an important member of this community during the many years of his athletic coaching and as an administrator in the Lewiston school system.

Coming to Lewiston High School in 1952, after a successful stint at John Bapst High School with championship baseball and football teams, he led the Lewiston High School boys basketball teams to the Western Maine Tournament eight times. His 1960 Blue Devils captured the state title in an undefeated regular season before losing in the New England tournament’s championship game.

Crowley was the principal at the Lewiston Junior High School from 1961 to 1965 before moving on to the University of Maine at Fort Kent as Dean of Students. After his retirement from academia, he served 12 years in the Maine Legislature.

Crowley was elected to the University of Maine Hall of Fame, the Maine State Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and, in 1992, to the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame.

Ralph Tuttle, Auburn