Naperville Central traces its proud athletic tradition back to the 1910-1911 school year, originally competing as the Naperville Community High School Redskins. Despite more than a century’s worth of athletes, parents, and boosters to support twenty-eight varsity programs, it would be hard to argue that that there have ever been bigger fans of Redskin and Redhawk athletics than Charles “Bud” Perry and his bride of more than sixty years, Barb. Bud and Barb attended Naperville Community High School, with Barb moving to Naperville in 1949. As students, both were heavily invested in the athletic program. Friend Frank Shigut remembers Bud Perry as a dedicated student manager, and Barb Harshbarger was a member of the “first family” of Naperville athletics, the niece of long-time Naperville football coach and 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee John “Joker” Harshbarger. After graduating in the spring of 1951, Bud attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and Barb continued her studies at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Following a stint in the United States Army during the Korean War, Bud returned home to Naperville where the high school sweethearts ultimately married and raised three children: Mark, Lynda, and Sue.The pair became even more involved in athletics when their own children enrolled at their alma mater and began writing their own NCHS stories. Sue participated in track, swimming and cheerleading, Lynda was a member of the track team and served as the gymnastics manager, and Mark competed in football and track. According to daughter Sue, Bud and Barb stayed involved beyond their kids’ graduation because they deeply loved sports and had a genuine heart for volunteering. As Barb Perry once told the Chicago Tribune, “We both had a great love of sports, and when our kids got involved, well, one thing led to another and we wouldn't think of being anywhere else on a Friday night." Friday nights would not have been the same without that distinctive Perry touch. A number of years ago, Naperville Community School District 203 established as part of their mission the goal to develop students who are community contributors. As alumni, Bud and Barb were exemplars of the district mission. For more than twenty years, Bud and Barb were staples at Naperville Central sporting events- not as spectators, but filling-in in just about every role one could play behind the scenes at a high school sporting event. During one twenty year span, Bud operated the scoreboard and worked as the timekeeper at all but two home football contests. Additionally, he generously volunteered his time at wrestling and track meets, giving him an opportunity to stay connected with the high school sports that he so loved. Not to be outdone, Barb was the time-keeper for girls basketball contests and kept the scorebook for both boys and girls volleyball. On Friday nights in the fall, Barb served as the press box hostess, providing home cooked meals to press box personnel, game officials, opposing coaches, prep sports writers, and anyone else seeking refuge during cold halftime breaks. The credit goes to Barb for so many members of the media commenting on the legendary hospitality of the Naperville Central press box. Along the way, Bud and Barb made many meaningful connections with a number of families who also contributed to the success of the Naperville Central athletics. Mostly notably, they include Barb’s friendship with Barb Borghoff and the “group” that included the Smiths, Shiguts, Stewarts, and Bogdaleks. Together, this crowd bled red and white. Equally important were the connections that they made with both the coaching staff and the many athletes who they had the pleasure of watching. Barb was proud to be the time keeper for the girls basketball program during the years featuring fellow Naperville Central Athletic Hall of Fame inductees Candace Parker and Courtney Peters. They also noted the many coaches with whom they had developed a special bond and for whom they had a tremendous amount of respect, including Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Sterr, Hall of Fame tennis coach Judy Shull, gymnastics coach Dottie Rizzuto, and longtime Athletic Trainer Bill Hughes.That respect was reciprocated by a Naperville Central athletic staff that understands the value of a dedicated group of volunteers. As loyal fans, they were the consummate cheerleaders, the first to congratulate a team on a hard-fought victory and never critical in defeat. For their generosity, in 2001, the Naperville Central Athletic Department established the Bud & Barb Perry Award, given annually to a volunteer who has exhibited the same dedication to the program that Bud and Barb did for so many years.But for all their work, and the award that bears their name, Bud and Barb’s greatest accomplishment continued to be the three children they were incredibly proud of. With two grandsons, TC and Daniel Fleming, and a great-grandson, Peighton, the Perrys’ love of sports will live on. We can all learn a lesson from Bud and Barb about giving back to a cherished school and home community, one volunteer opportunity at a time. Their legacy is one of love – for each other, and for the place around which they built their family.