Don Smith Memorial Mariner(s) of the Year
The Don Smith Mariner of the Year Award is TMCA’s award for service. Any member in good standing, not currently an officer, can be chosen as the outstanding representative of what service looks like in the club. This service can take many forms and cover all aspects of volunteerism: behind the scenes, volunteering for formal or informal assignments, helping out with various events, or more often, some combination of all of the above.
Don Smith was one of the founding fathers of TMCA who helped form the club in 1978. He served as club Secretary in 1979. Don was truly larger than life. He was always positive and upbeat, even while suffering from lupus – a painful disease whose complications eventually cost him his life. He always stepped in to lend a hand, to help out wherever needed, and to just have fun whether leading or supporting a TMCA event.
Don truly lived the saying that ‘the difference between an adventure and an ordeal was your attitude’. That’s just the kind of man he was, and why he is memorialized in the name of our Mariner of The Year Award. Don Smith passed away in May 1983. The Don Smith Mariner of The Year was first given out in 1984.
- 2023 Neil & Kathy Houser
- 2022 Lori Friemel
- 2021 Charles Parette
- 2020 Larry Friemel
- 2019 Phil Geren
- 2018 Ladye Jane Stone
- 2017 Christopher Bown
- 2016 Bron Lee
- 2015 Doug & Karen Chappell
- 2014 Linda Schoene
- 2013 Martin & Marylou Clark
- 2012 Philip Kropf
- 2011 Gloria Rooney
- 2010 J.J. Wallace
- 2009 Wayne Mulloy
- 2008 Andy Upchurch
- 2007 Troy and Deana Jones
- 2006 Don and Ann Thomson
- 2005 John and Peggy Allison
- 2004 Bill and Tricia Bagley
- 2003 Ben and Kathy Reyna
- 2002 Frand and Sue LeGrand
- 2001 Ed and Dorthy Hearon
- 2000 JJ and Claire Wallace
- 1999 Hank and Sue Knippa
- 1998 Luke Sterling
- 1997 Dan and Karen Wyatt
- 1996 Ed and Marion Herndon
- 1995 Mickey and Carla Murphy
- 1994 Jim McIntyre
- 1993 Frank and Sue LeGrand
- 1992 Darryl and Eileen Cordray
- 1991 Ray and Ginnie Dahlman
- 1990 Marty Bischoff
- 1989 Joe Tombrella
- 1988 Beth Geyer
- 1987 Tom Schmitz
- 1986 Wayne Christopher
- 1985 Tom Campbell
- 1984 Don Tonelli
