Walter Ridlon (GHS ’67 and USM ‘87) was recently named the University of Southern Maine Athletic 2020 Richard A. Costello Special Achievement Award Recipient. The award is presented annually to a USM graduate who has distinguished themselves through their commitment to student-athletes and athletics. A talented multi-sport student-athlete during his years in Gorham, at the high school and collegiate level, Ridlon has been influential in the lives of students, student-athletes and his community since receiving his undergraduate degree from Gorham State Teachers’ College and then his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Maine.

Working as a teacher at Mt. View and his alma mater Gorham High School, assistant principal and principal of Sacopee Valley High School, Ridlon was president of the Western Maine Principals Association, earned the Presidential Scholars Distinguished Teacher Award and was a nominee for the Walt Disney Teacher of the Year Award. He then moved to higher education where he has held many roles, and presently is the Student Services Coordinator at Lake Region Vocational Center.

Sharing his love of athletics, Ridlon took turns coaching a variety of sports including baseball, soccer, track, golf and basketball at the junior varsity, varsity and collegiate levels, with his greatest success coming from the sidelines of the hardwood. Ridlon served as a coach in some capacity for Gorham High School, Sacopee Valley High School, Mt. View High School, Central Maine Community, and the University of Southern Maine. Positively affecting hundreds of young student-athletes as an educator and a coach, Ridlon was named the Maine Basketball Coach of the Year in 1974 as the Gorham High School head coach, and was also inducted into the Gorham High School Sports Hall of Fame.