CALAIS – By day he’s immersed in the law. At night he’s charging around a soccer field or running up and down a basketball court.

On Saturday, First District Attorney Paul Cavanaugh received the Michael McPherson Volunteer Award. The award was named after former city councilor Michael McPherson.

McPherson, who was just 48, died unexpectedly in January 2000. Before his death, McPherson served as a volunteer coach for the city’s Recreation Department. He was a strong advocate of the city’s skateboard park and of the city’s youth. At the time of his death, friends described McPherson as a man of integrity who loved children.

Cavanaugh was presented with the award Saturday during the Recreation Department’s basketball games.

“When I got to town and got into coaching there was an opening at the high school and I was lucky to coach the varsity soccer team for two years, but I needed help,” Cavanaugh said Monday. “Mike stepped up and for two years he was my right arm.”

So Cavanaugh said he was honored to receive the award. “This is very humbling. I don’t think I’ve paid the dues that others have,” he said. “It is an honor and flattering to be mentioned with those people who’ve won the award in the past.”

The award was first presented in 2000 and among the recipients are: John Smith Jr., Marcia Rogers, Cam Leishman, Randy Morrison, Bill McVicar, Craig Morrison and John Hill.

“The city of Calais is so very fortunate to have the number of volunteers that we do,” John Rogers, director of the city’s Recreation Department, said Monday. “Without their devotion and caring our programming would be a mere shadow of what it is today. Paul is one of those very special people that will never say no to helping our youth.”

Last year was rough for the Cavanaugh family, which includes four children. Cavanaugh’s wife, Diane, died at the age of 42 after a five-year battle with cancer.

During his more than 10 years as a volunteer, Cavanaugh has been a soccer referee and a basketball official. He has been a soccer instructor for various grades and a soccer coach at the junior high level. He is a member of the Calais Recreation Commission.

He has been described as an advocate for the proposed football program, indoor soccer coordinator, executive board member of the city’s Weed and Seed grant, varsity high school soccer coach and member of the Safe Haven Committee, a group that works with the Rec Department providing evening programs for local youth grades nine through 12. Money for the program comes from the city’s Weed and Seed grant.

Cavanaugh had high praise for the recreation department and for Rogers. “How many kids’ lives have been touched by that department,” he said. “It’s a fine program, it’s a wonderful program to be part of.”