MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Longtime Morehead State Athletic Department staff member and avid Eagle athletic supporter in retirement Jim Wells has earned this year's Thurston Banks Award from the Ohio Valley Conference.

The award, selected by the OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs), was established in 2013 to recognize individuals (e.g. academic advisor, professor, tutor, etc.), with at least five years of service at one or more OVC member institutions, for their outstanding contributions to OVC student-athletes' academic success, learning and development as well for his or her overall commitment to the institution's athletics program.

The award is named after Dr. Thurston Banks, who served the Tennessee Tech Department of Athletics for 31 of his 34 years on the faculty and served as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) for 25 years before stepping down in 2006. He was inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame in 2007.

Two awards are bestowed each year, and this year Wells joins Southeast Missouri's Dr. Jerry Westbook as honorees.

"I am so honored to win this award because this is all about honoring people who help students get to the ultimate goal of earning their degree," Wells said. "There is no greater satisfaction than to see that your hard work leads to success for students, and that's what I tried very hard to do during my career. To have your peers recognize that fact is an incredible feeling."

Wells served Morehead State University in several different capacities for 49 years, including as an undergraduate student and baseball student manager, to an employee for 35 years and as a retired volunteer.

Following graduation he worked in the MSU Public Information, Sports Information and Publications Departments, was the manager of the University's Sunnybrook Golf Course and served as the school's head softball coach in 1991, leading the program to a then-record 32 victories.

In 1991 he transitioned to administration and served 17 years as the Compliance and Education Services Director. His work helped lead Morehead State to win seven OVC Academic Achievement Banners during his tenure.

In retirement he helped in operations for special athletic events hosted on the MSU campus and served as the official scorekeeper for Morehead State men's and women's basketball. He was inducted into the Morehead State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.

"It is also an honor to receive an award named for Dr. Banks," Wells added. "He was the best at what he did, and I worked right alongside him in our days. I was overjoyed when I got this news."