University of Alabama Track and Field Coach and former Olympian Harvey Glance will be the guest speaker at this year's Achiever Award Banquet in Greenville.

Sponsored by the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greenville YMCA, the Achiever Award is presented annually to a male and female athlete from the five high schools in Butler County who distinguishes themselves on and off the field in the area of athletics, academics, church and community service. The 2002 event will be held in the Family Life Center at First Baptist Church in Greenville on May 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Glance is a three-time Olympian who won a gold medal in the 1976 games in Montreal as a member of the 4×100 relay team. Glance also won gold medals in the Pan American Games, the World Cup, Goodwill Games and World Championships. He was the captain of the 1980 and 1984 Olympic track and field teams. At one time, he held the world record in the 100-meter dash (1976) abd tge 100-yard dash (1978).

Inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, Glance began his coaching career at Auburn University, his alma mater, before taking over as head coach of the Crimson Tide five years ago. During his tenure at the two state schools, he has coached 143 All-Americans and eight National Champions.

Glance served as a member of the U.S. Advisory Council during the 1996 Olympic Games. He was Olympic Team Athlete Liaison in 1988 and again in 2000. In 1988, he also was a member of the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors. He currently serves as a member of the executive committee of the Alabama Sports Festival and was elected to the Board of Directors for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club and Special Olympic organizations in 1998.

A native of Phenix City, Glance is married to the former Booker Lynne Graves, and they have one son, Walter, who is 20-years-old.

Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carol Lee, co-chairman of the Achiever Committee, along with the YMCA Director Clark Caldwell, said she is delighted Glance has accepted the invitation to speak at this year's event. "Harvey is one of the finest athletes and men this state has ever produced," she said. "His achievements on and off the field of competition are outstanding and we are just excited to have someone of his stature taking part in our program."

Lee said tickets for the banquet currently are on sale at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce office in the old depot on Bolling Street. Tickets are $10 each and there is a limited supply.

Twenty-seven athletes from Greenville High School, McKenzie High School, Greenville Academy, Georgiana High School and Fort Dale Academy have been nominated for the award.