Riders Turn Out to Honor Mike Olivero in Emotional Bike Night

Scores of bikers turned out Tuesday for an emotional Central Washington Bike Nights gathering that brought the biking community together to honor a fallen rider, shed a few tears and share some comforting smiles at the Buzz Inn Steakhouse in Ellensburg.

Standing in front of a photo collage of Mike Olivero, who died last week at 63, Ogly Ray Matthews, president of Unforegiven MC, paid tribute to his friend. Olivero, a longtime criminology professor at Central Washington University, was an Illinois native who put in many hours officiating local football, basketball and baseball games, and playing Santa Claus each Christmas.

Here's to Mike -- and here's to a night in his honor: