City Council Honors Longtime Wrestling Umpire Brian Witts

LOWELL --

COMMUNITY -- At the Oct. 20 City Council meeting, councilors held a moment of silence for Brian F. Witts, a Lowell High School graduate who, in addition to his work for the city's Department of Public Works, "worked as an umpire for various sport leagues as a referee for youth and high school wrestling, which he especially enjoyed."

Councilors also remembered Cleo J. Supernaut, 96, longtime owner of the Highland Tap on Westford Street, who was a USA Boxing judge and glover for more than a decade, watched over boxer Mickey Ward's career and later mentored young boxers who came after him, and ran the Make-A-Wish Foundation Golf Tournament for eight years. Councilor Dakota, a board member of Team Mickey Ward Charities, said he spoke with Ward, who called Supernaut "like a father to me." Councilor Chow recalled Supernaut's devotion to the Golden Gloves, saying "he would be there like every match."

Separately, at the Oct. 24 School Committee meeting, Project Learn executive director Shamir Rivera-Quintel said the nonprofit has discounted tickets available for the UMass Lowell River Hawks hockey game on Friday, Nov. 6, with a portion of ticket sales benefiting Project Learn's career-pathway programs for Lowell students.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.