The Award
The Founders’ Award award was begun in the mid-1980s to honor members who had made significant contributions to our club. At that time, the ship’s bell was acquired and mounted to a board with space for two sets of engraved brass plaques. The first set of plaques carries the names of past skippers of the club. The second carries the names of the Founders’ Award recipients.
The time, effort and leadership of the skippers have been obvious and deserving of plaques in their honor. The club members felt that these two awards should be completely separate. Whether a nominee for the Founders’ Award has served as skipper (or other officer) is therefore not considered to be relevant when choosing nominees. The Founders’ Award was set up to honor an individual who, through club related volunteer work or work that enhanced the club’s reputation, deserved separate recognition.
There have been years when the Founders’ Award has not been awarded. Members are eligible to receive the award multiple times, thus recognizing continuous effort that benefits the club.
Past recipients
| 1985 | Tom Abbott |
| 1986 | Bill Fox |
| 1987 | Jack Bobbitt |
| 1988 | Tom Tragle, Jr. |
| 1989 | Paris Aiken |
| 1990 | Bill Altice |
| 1991 | Bill Clarke |
| 1992 | Peter D. H. Tagg |
| 1994 | John Cheevers |
| 1999 | Graham Horne |
| 2000 | Bob Comet |
| 2001 | Joe McCleary |
| 2002 | Alan Frazer |
| 2003 | Tom Saunders |
| 2004 | Dave Baker |
| 2005 | Heinz Schiller |
| 2006 | Greg Harrington |
| 2007 | Tim Wood |
| 2008 | Eric Harfst |
| 2009 | Ryland Craze |
| 2010 | John Cheevers |
| 2011 | Tony Clayton |
| 2012 | Bill Dangler |
| 2013 | Tom Saunders |
| 2014 | Ron Lewis |
| 2015 | Gene Berger |
| 2016 | Marty Gromovsky |
| 2018 | Gene Berger |
| 2019 | Greg Harrington |