PHOTOS: SCFCA presents Braven ‘Bud’ Dyer award to Orange County sportswriter Tim Burt

University High assistant football coach Aron Kaye (left) presented the Braven “Bud” Dyer award to Tim Burt Saturday. (Photos Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone)

Long-time Orange County sportswriter Tim Burt was presented with the Braven “Bud” Dyer Jr. Media Award during the 62^nd annual Southern California Football Coaches Association Clinic Saturday at Santiago High School in Corona.

The SCFCA presents this award of merit and appreciation to a member of the media who, over a period of time, has demonstrated through work, a friendship and a positive image for high school football.

University High assistant coach Aron Kaye, a board member at SCFCA, nominated Burt for the award.

In 1998, the SCFCA Media Award was renamed in memory of Braven “Bud” Dyer Jr. (1926-1997), the 1991 recipient of the award. He was the long-time former awards coordinator for the Amateur Athletic Foundation.

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Burt began his career as a sportswriter in 1979 and joined the Irvine World News in 1984 as sports editor working for editors Jeanne Keevil and Don Dennis. He worked with the IWN and Orange County Register until 2018 where he worked for a number of editors, including Paul Danison, Brian Patterson and Todd Harmonson.

Then his career took another turn. In July of 2018, Burt and Gabriel Calderon launched OC Sports Zone, a free website dedicated to the coverage of Orange County high school, youth and college sports. The site remains free and is supported by advertising partners. The website covers all of Orange County.

Burt said he is proud of the website’s growth and excited about the prospects for the future with the main goal of covering more schools and events in 2020 and continuing to increase readership.

Burt, affectionaly known as the “Mayor of Irvine,” through his coverage of sports in Irvine, is the owner, editor and main writer for the website. He is well known for being humble and for his passion of high school sports and his relentless dedication to the recognition of high school athletes.

Burt, a graduate of Long Beach Wilson, graduated from Long Beach State with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. In 2016 the City of Irvine honored him as a member of the city’s Wall of Recognition.

During Saturday’s lunchtime ceremony, Kaye presented Burt with the award. The luncheon was part of a day-long clinic featuring high school coaches who are part of the SCFA. Burt, who has lived in Orange County for more than 30 years, said he was appreciative of Kaye for nominating him for the award.

“I want to thank the SCFCA for this award; I will cherish it forever,” Burt told a group of 200 high school coaches from Southern California. “I want to thank the coaches and the players who share their stories with us I also want to thank my family and my friends who have supported me over the years. High school sports is my passion and I feel fortunate to work in this profession.”

Burt also expressed his appreciation to the former editors, writers, photographers and designers he has worked with over the years.

Previous winners have included Steve Fryer and Dan Albano of the Orange County Register, Eric Sondheimer and Tom Hamilton of the Los Angeles Times and Roger Carlson of the Daily Pilot.

“Tim does it for the right reason; he does it for the kids,” Kaye said. “He’s been doing it for a long time and he does a fantastic job promoting the players. Truthfully, it was an easy decision by the committee to select Tim for this award.”

Other awards went to:

—Mike Walsh, football coach at San Pedro High School, Clarke Van Hoorebeke Award.

—-Ralph Valdez, football coach at Garey, Pomona, Damien, St. Paul, Montebello, Warren, Le Puente and Santiago High Schools, GIB Dear Award.

-George W. Pascoe, Orange County football coach, retired school teacher and SCFCA) – Otto Plum Award, service to the SCFCA Board Award. He coached at Westminster, Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach.

—-Reggie Thompkins, associate Superintendent for Riverside County of Education, Herb Meyer Service Award   

—-Lou Farrar, football coach at Charter Oak High school , received the Lou Farrar Legacy Award. The legendary coach died in November 2019 and his wife, Nancy, was on hand to receive the award in his honor. 

—Bob Johnson, former coach at El Toro and Mission Viejo, received the Clare Van Hoorebeke Award.

Among those involved in the program were Bert Esposito, president of the SCFCA and Bob Burt, vice president. Burt (no relation to Tim Burt) coached at a number of high schools, including Cypress and was also head coach at Cal State Northridge.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone