Athletic Boosters Recognize Whorton At Annual Crab Feed

Riverbank Athletic Boosters and their supporters gathered on Saturday, Feb. 25 to celebrate their sixth annual Crab Feed fundraiser.

Held at the F.E.S. Hall in Oakdale on Saturday evening, a huge, hungry crowd packed the venue, partaking of prawns, tri-tip, salad and rolls, in addition to the crab. The event outgrew its original location, the Riverbank Community Center.

Parents, coaches, school administrators and many others enjoyed the evening, which included other fundraising activities, including a number of raffles.

The event featured a DJ and included dancing after the meal.

A highlight of the evening was a big surprise to its recipient. Retired Fire Chief and downtown businessman Mike Whorton was recognized for his support for local sports, both for the Boosters organization, and also for other youth sports in town. Those included the recent Youth Basketball Tournaments and the upcoming Riverbank Youth Baseball and Softball Association season.

It was a big surprise for Whorton, who spent the evening sitting next to District One Stanislaus County Supervisor Buck Condit. He presented Whorton with a Certificate of Recognition, expressing the county board’s “appreciation to and grateful acknowledgement” of Whorton for his “Dedication and Contributions to RHS and the community.”

Coach Casey Blevins, a member of the Boosters, presented Whorton with a clear engraved trophy that reads, in part, “RHS Boosters would like to express our gratitude for your dedication and contributions to RHS and the community we serve.”

Whorton had a 30-year career as a firefighter in Riverbank, ending up a Chief of the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District before retirement. He also owns Pizza Plus, which sponsors many of the local youth sports teams.