This year's Fetterman Award winner may be the most involved person most people have never noticed.

Cooperstown's Dave Adsit, a longtime volunteer with Cooperstown Little League and soccer programs, is the 2006 recipient of the annual Patrick C. Fetterman Award.

The award has been given annually since 1994 by the Clark Sports Center to a member of the community who is dedicated to serving local youth, especially in the area of athletics. Fetterman was a longtime associate director at the gym. Adsit will receive the award at an invitation only luncheon at the Otesaga Hotel on Friday, Oct. 27.

``There's no doubt he's very deserving,'' said Clark Sports Center director Brad Feik. ``He's got an obvious passion for sports and kids and he's been a tremendous asset to the soccer and baseball programs. He's one of those guys that flies under the radar, but is an integral part of the success of these programs.''

Adsit is a 1975 graduate of Cooperstown High School, and after attending Pharmacy School in Albany, took over as pharmacist for his father, William, at Church & Scott on Chestnut St. in 1980.

``My father was definitely my role model and inspiration for getting involved,'' the soft-spoken Adsit said on Monday. ``I just think it's an important thing to do.''

Adsit has coached at every level of Little League, was president of the Little League board and also was the president of the Cooperstown Soccer Club.

``It's very important to get kids started playing soccer at an early age,'' Adsit said.

Adist was also instrumental in getting the popular 7-on-7 soccer league at ther Sports Center started.

Feik said Adsit has also been a generous sponsor of teams, continuing his father's habit of sponsoring teams which dates all the way back to the 1960s.

Adsit began his coaching career when the youngest of his four boys, Creighton, started to play. Creighton is now 20 and is at RPI studying nuclear engineering.

Dave and wife Sue also have three other boys: Thomas, 18, a rotary exchange student in France who will be attending American University; Connor, 14 and a freshman at CCS; and Phillip, 11, a sixth grader.

Past winners include: 1993: Lavern "Beanie" Ainslie; 1994: Jack Vineyard; 1995: Ted Kantorowski; 1996: Malcolm Brooks; 1997-98: Jerry Townsend; 1998-99: Don Howard; 2000: Dick White; 2001: Pat and Ed Hazzard; 2002: Stephen ``Sharky'' Nagelschmidt; 2003: Frank Miosek; 2004: Ted Spencer; and 2005: Terry Bliss.

``This is a very prestigious award, and I was very surprised when Brad called,'' Adsit said.

``We think Dave is a great addition to a distinguished list of recipients,'' Feik said.

Adsit's name will join a plaque at the gym honoring all recipients.