INDIANAPOLIS – It’s only fitting that Kirk Robinson will be saluted on Saturday at the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals.

The Akron resident has called it a career this year after a long run as one of the state’s most highly-respected high school officials.

Robinson will receive the 2016-17 IHSAA Outstanding Basketball Official Award this weekend to cap his marvelous officiating career.

Robinson, a 1977 Tippecanoe Valley High School graduate, has been a licensed basketball official for the past 32 years. He has served as the president, treasurer and secretary of the Northern Indiana Officials Association over the past three decades during his service to high school athletics.

The humble and hard-working Robinson has worked 23 boys basketball sectional championships, 16 regionals, five semistates and three State Finals, including last year. He has also worked the Girls Basketball State Finals five times and the Volleyball State Finals on seven occasions.

Robinson, 58, has decided to retire from officiating to spend more time with his family, including grandson Truman and to focus more on training to compete in marathons.

Robinson was selected for this honor by a committ􏰁ee representing the official’s associations. In Indiana, there are 24 associations  made up of more than 7,000 men and women who give up much of their personal ti􏰀me to assist in providing wholesome, worthwhile, and healthy ac􏰀tivities for the student-athletes in Indiana. Statewide, there are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports.

Robinson was honored by the IHSAA as the Volleyball Official of the Year in 2007 and as the Girls Basketball Official of the Year in 2012.

Robinson, who was honored at Concord High School last month prior to working his final regular-season boys basketball game, is the purchasing manager of Pike Lumber Company in Akron. He is very ac􏰀tive in his community, serving as the President of the Akron Revitalization Commi􏰁ttee, the former President and current board member of the Akron Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Akron Lions Club.

Robinson and his wife of 37 years, Kim, have two children – Kyle (32) and Kara (27) and four-year old grandson Truman.