Former Lawrence of Fairfield football coach and four high school athletes from Bangor, Old Town, Belfast, and Skowhegan have been honored by the State of Maine chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc.

Cooper, who won three Class A state championships in his 28 seasons as the Bulldogs coach, has been selected as the 2001 recipient of the Contribution to Amateur Football Award, given annually to “a Maine resident whose life epitomizes dedication to amateur football.”

The longtime Lawrence coach compiled a 217-96-6 record while winning four Eastern Maine and seven Pine Tree Conference titles. He also coached at Madison from 1965 through 1968.

Bangor running back-defensive back Josh Johnson, Old Town quarterback-linebacker Keenan Goslin, Belfast quarterback-linebacker-punter Ben Morley, and Skowhegan fullback-linebacker Ryan Libby are among 12 students chosen to receive the 14th annual scholar-athlete awards.

The other recipients are Patrick Davis from Thornton Academy in Saco, Caleb George and Daniel Steller from Bonny Eagle in Buxton, Noah Hoffman from Mount Ararat in Topsham, Brian Lapham of Sanford, Matt Orlando of South Portland, and Quinton Porter of Portland. The college player recipient is Colby College senior linebacker Drew Johnson.

Johnson is second in his class of 304 with a 4.46 grade-point average and was a first team all-Pine Tree Conference selection. He was also picked for the academic all-state basketball team. Goslin is ranked 11th in his class of 171 with a 93.0 grade average and was an all-LTC Class B first team pick. Morley is 22nd in a class of 122 with a 92.5 average and was a Fitzpatrick Trophy semifinalist and an all-LTC Class C pick. Libby is 18th in a class of 199 with a 91.0 average and was an all-academic PTC pick.

Also honored by the NFF is Maine Commissioner of Education J. Duke Albanese, who is receiving the 2001 Distinguished American award, presented to “a Maine resident who, since playing football in high school or college, has had notable success in a chosen career.”

Albanese is a Rhode Island native who graduated from Bowdoin College in 1971 and earned a master’s in guidance and counseling from the University of Maine. He was a teacher and coach at Skowhegan High School before becoming superintendent of schools for Messalonskee School District.

All of the honorees will be presented their awards at a banquet at Bowdoin’s Thorne Hall on May 21 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and the event is open to the public.