Few volunteers were as committed as Jay Benson

Over the years a fixture at Elk Grove High School's women basketball games was Jay Benson. He was the official scorekeeper, first for his kid Brian when he coached the Thundering Herd but stuck around the program through coaches Amanda Buck, Greg LeCount, Larry Price and Dave Crawford.
Jay was always a welcome smile, ensured I had the starting lineup and after the game the last scoring. After I learnt more about him a little bit I went to the scoring table one night prior to a Lady Herd video game, greeted Jay who practically all the time was wearing a referee's jersey. Years ago the basketball scorekeeper constantly wore the black and white stripes. Jay was keeping that tradition alive.
Being the wise aleck that I sometimes am, I asked Jay if he was trying out for a task at Footlocker. Jay had a great laugh. (To appreciate that joke you need to know that the employees at the sports memorabilia shop constantly wore referee jerseys).

Jay passed away Tuesday at the age of 88 from kidney failure after years of fighting with phase four colon cancer.
"His web page far exceeded any other program in the information that was contained in it. He not just provided his time to us however also to the softball and track programs.".
" He started keeping score for basketball games when I played at River City High school in West Sacramento in the late 80s," Brian composed to me in an email. After the 2007-08 season I retired from coaching and he remained to continue on with the program.
Brian coached the Lady Herd for 12 seasons with a record of 159-95. (I got that info from the old ladies’ & rsquo; basketball website, LadyHerdHoops.info) Jay kept the stats and records undamaged on that website, going as far back as the 1981 season archiving the ladies basketball program at Elk Grove.

" The program site he established acted as a crucial tool for communication and promo of the teams before the period of smart phones." Brian said.
Jay even created a Lady Herd Hoops Hall of Fame, had requirements for receiving that honor and it now has eleven "enshrined" in the Hall.
Among them, Elk Grove's all-time leading scorer, Mira Schulman is now working in finance and living in San Francisco. She recalled Benson fondly.
" We utilized to call him our 'mascot.' We loved him," she laughed. "He was so devoted. He came to all of our games, home or away, rain or shine. He was as continuous as our coach. He would even concern practices and was always so delighted to be there.".
The senior Benson lastly retired from his scorekeeping after the 2021-2022 season.
" The was typically very first in line for Friday football video games and ran the scoreboard for home softball games as well," Brian wrote in his email. "He devoted countless hours to the program, offering presents and deals with to the players. Many players have actually commented today how much of a part of the program he was and just how much he was appreciated for his generosity and smiles, assistance and jokes.".